De Bromhead hoping Bob Olinger shines over longer trip

It's rare for a Grade 1-winning performance at the Cheltenham Festival to leave more questions than answers, but that was the case with Bob Olinger's Turners Novices' Chase success.

Galopin Des Champs had blown the star novice away at the time of his cruel final-fence fall, with the eventual winner carrying his head slightly high as he came home clear of just two other finishers.

The sight of Galopin Des Champs ruthlessly taking the Henry de Bromhead-trained performer out of his comfort zone was startling.

De Bromhead – the man who knows this unbeaten chaser best – suggested he never thought he would "ever see a horse make Bob Olinger look like that".

However, there turned out to be a legitimate excuse for the lacklustre effort when it emerged Bob Olinger had a torn muscle in his near hindquarter, and Rachael Blackmore also said her mount made a noise.

This Grade 1 probably boils down to two questions. Will we see Bob Olinger back to his very best, and will he be as effective over 3m½f, having never run over further than 2m5f before?

If the answer to both questions is yes, the Robcour-owned seven-year-old is undoubtedly the one to beat, but big guns Monkfish and Envoi Allen both bombed out in this race behind Colreevy last year.

Backing Bob Olinger at odds of around 6-4 at the end of a season in which he has encountered a physical issue – and now returns in a first-time tongue-tie – will not be for everyone.

Fury Road: Grade 1-winning novice chaser finished closest to Ahoy Senor at Aintree this month

Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gigginstown Grade 1 novice chase winners Fury Road and Beacon Edge officially have 4lb to find with the two-time Cheltenham Festival winner but they should relish the decent ground.

Fury Road ran with great credit when a five-length second to Ahoy Senor in the Mildmay Novices' Chase and turns out again 18 days later, while Beacon Edge failed to fire in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and needs to bounce back.

Capodanno, who traded as low as 2.04 in-running when giving Bob Olinger a scare over 2m4f here in January, bolted up in a handicap hurdle at this meeting last year. He would be a major player if building on his best form this season.

Millers Bank didn't beat a sensational field in the Manifesto at Aintree earlier this month – and is rated 10lb inferior to Bob Olinger – but he is a potential improver making his first start beyond 2m4½f.

'Bob definitely wasn't right at Cheltenham but seems really well again' 

Henry de Bromhead believes Bob Olinger is back to himself after a below-par Cheltenham performance and says stepping up in trip is a logical next step for the one-time point-to-point winner.

The Grand National-winning trainer has long had this race in mind for the three-time Grade 1 winner, who is priced at 20-1 for next year's Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

De Bromhead said: "I think it's a logical progression to go to three miles with Bob. He seems really well again. Obviously it was great to win but he was disappointing at Cheltenham in terms of the level of his performance.

"He definitely wasn't right at Cheltenham. Definitely. He had this torn muscle. It wasn't bad but it was definitely torn and it probably ties in.

"Rachael said he made a terrible noise after he jumped the sixth-last, where he twisted in the air. We were always going to go for this race and, as we're happy with him now that the muscle tear has cleared up, it's all systems go."

What they say

Eddie O'Leary, racing manager to Gigginstown House Stud, owners of Beacon Edge and Fury Road
That wasn't Beacon Edge's true running at Cheltenham. The ground had turned very heavy and he was sick coming home so maybe he just wasn't right. His form suggests this is his ground and trip so I hope we see a good horse here. Fury Road ran a cracker at Aintree. It's a fairly quick turnaround but he's a better-ground horse and we're hoping this will suit him.

Capodanno: bolted up by 12 lengths at last year's Punchestown festival

Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Capodanno
He ran a good, solid race at Cheltenham. I don't think the ground turning soft would have bothered him too much. This looks a hot contest but Willie [Mullins] is happy with him.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Lifetime Ambition
Good to yielding ground over this sort of trip should hopefully suit him down to the ground. He won well last time and is a spring horse.

Alex Hales, trainer of Millers Bank
I think this trip will be well within his compass. If Henry has Bob Olinger back to where he was then obviously it will be very tough to beat him.

Paul Fahey, trainer of Ballyshannon Rose
She's won a Grade 2 and has been placed in a Grade 3 so we'd love to get some Grade 1 black type. She's fresh and well after missing the other spring festivals.

Tuesday's Punchestown previews:

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