Lyndon makes winning start over fences Barry Lyndon made the perfect start over fences when claiming the O’Neills.com Irish EBF Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse. The Dermot McLoughlin-trained gelding was progressive over hurdles, reaching a career high mark of 137, but proved easy-to-back today, going to post a 5/2 shot having been even-money in the morning. Paddy O’Brien tracked the front-running Millforce in the two-mile-five contest before sending his mount to the front over the second last. The Imperial Monarch gelding galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-quarter length success over the long-time leader. Well-backed 5/6 favourite Kamikaz Du Plessis appeared to cock his jaw turning for home and could only finish a well-beaten third. McLoughlin said afterwards:- “It’s the first time he’s jumped on grass so hopefully he’ll improve plenty from it. “He said he had a good blow so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards. We might step him up in trip as well. “The plan was to get going steady, get him a lead and get him jumping. That was the main objective today. He seemed to put in a good round of jumping and that’s a big help. “We’ll look for a winners’ contest or a novice. He will improve and hopefully he can improve enough to get in with the big boys. We’ll see what happens.”
