Gallant Oscar (Mark Enright) is clear at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Gallant Oscar whose connections were in hot water with the stewards after a never threatening fourth to Madam Bovary over this two and a half mile trip at Punchestown in January, duly came good in style when taking the Slievenamon Beginners Chase in runaway fashion.
The horse was banned for 42 days following that Punchestown run, with trainer Denis Quinn fined and rider Roger Loughran suspended seven days for making insufficient effort.
Now in the care of fellow Clare handler Pat Lynch, those who helped send him off the 3/1 favourite here had few worries.
The seven-year-old gelding jumped super for leading claiming rider Mark Enright, and quickly settled the issue early in the straight before going on to beat Coolnagorna Giggs (6/1) by six lengths.
The long-time leader Dazzlers Day (11/2) faded from two out to finish another 19 lengths adrift in third.
Lynch said, “He did the job well and is a grand horse but all the hard work was done as I only got him last week. I knew the horse well as he was previously trained close by me.
"Chasing is his job, and he’s entitled to run in a winners-of-one although that’s a big step up. He’s capable of going further.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
