Duke sees it out best under Power

Our Duke stayed on best to take the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase under Robbie Power for Jessica Harrington and the Cooper family.

An impressive winner on his debut over fences at Navan earlier this month, the six-year-old son of Oscar was sent off at 4/1 today as he stepped up to three miles for the first time.

Prominent throughout, he made a mistake seven out, and wasn't fluent at the second last. He was then pushed along in fourth, moving into third before the last.

He responded well to pressure from there, and kept on best up the run-in, getting to the front in the closing stages, going on to score by half a length.

Coney Island , who was sent off the 5/2 favourite, had to settle for second under Barry Geraghty for Eddie Harty, while Disko was another half a length back in third under Jonathan Moore for Noel Meade at 20/1.

The front three went twenty-one lengths clear of the fourth, and that was Martello Tower .

Jessica Harrington said afterwards: "He's great, considering how many mistakes he made. He must have made five mistakes on the way around and at the second last I thought he had to be out of it.

"He came back, pinged the last and quickened up well.

"For a horse his size, I know he won his bumpers well, but everything he did last year was probably only a bonus compared to hopefully what he'll go on a do this year.

"He has plenty of stamina and three miles is no problem. His full-brother (Oscar Sam) gets three miles no problem but he is just a different stamp of a horse.

"He was caught out today as it was only his second run over fences. When he won his beginners chase they were always going just that bit slower.

"Today he had to go and jump quickly and he did make mistakes but he'll have learned an awful lot from that.

"Today was the plan. He's probably not a horse that takes a lot of racing. I'll talk to the Coopers and we'll see what happens.

"He had a hard enough race there and he won't be appearing for a while now.

"They have one mare for breeding and she had three runners this week. Ask Granny didn't cover herself in glory but will get there eventually.

"Oscar Sam, who was a great servant last year and is probably a bit high in the handicap now, and Our Duke.

"Not many people have three horses in training and get three to Leopardstown. It's great for them."

On the possibility of going straight for RSA, Harrington added: "He could do. It kind of suits him with the hill and everything. We'll see what happens.

Thriller! Our Duke lands a cracking renewal of the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase at @LeopardstownRC: pic.twitter.com/Ybj7VHVl8B

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 29, 2016

"That was probably as good a ground as he's ever run on. The only thing we were worried about was the ground and he doesn't seem to mind it.

"It's never going to be quick in Cheltenham any longer because they water it to make it good.

"That's probably as near to good ground as you'll get at Christmas time. He's managed to go on that and you'd hope he'd be alright."

When asked "Could he be a Gold Cup horse in time?", she added: "You can only dream. It's a long way to go and he's got to stay sound. He's six coming seven so is the right age."

STEWARDS REPORTS

B.J. Cooper, rider of Alpha Des Obeaux (FR), trained by M.F.Morris, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount burst blood vessels and was pulled up.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Alpha Des Obeaux (FR), trained by M.F.Morris, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have burst blood vessels.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson