Sin Palo eases to victory under Paul Townend from Double Seven back in second© Photo Healy Racing
Sin Palo (4/1) under Paul Townend put in an impressive display on his debut over fences to take the last at Kilbeggan this evening, the Loughnagore Beginners Chase.
Trained by Willie Mullins, the 8yo son of Dushyantor won his maiden hurdle last time out over the course beating Chase The Favourite (who won the first today) into second.
That was his sixth attempt in maiden hurdle company but on just his first start over fences today he duly obliged.
After racing prominently he closed on the leader Aces And Kings at the fifth. That fellow then crashed out at the fifth last and left Sin Palo with a clear leader.
He kicked on from there and despite making a mistake at the last he stayed on well to score by seven and a half lengths. Double Seven finished best of the rest back in second at 7/1 under Mark Walsh for Martin Brassil while Empire Theatre was a further twenty lengths back in third at 13/2 under Pa King.
The 9/4 favourite Canaly for treble seeking Dessie Hughes and Bryan Cooper ran no sort of race and pulled up before the last while the second favourite at 11/4 Mickelson finished a well beaten fourth.
Winning rider Paul Townend said afterwards: "He was good. He was in front for a long time and it was just matter of getting over the last. He is a natural over fences and you couldn’t ask for anymore."
The winner is a half-brother to Strong Platinum who won nine times, including the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup in 1995 where he beat Sound Man and Imperial Call into second and third respectively.
(On course reporting by Gary Carson)
