Return to winning ways for Vanillier Vanillier (9/4f) gained a belated second success over fences and a first banks’ race win today, as the 2023 English Grand National runner-up easily landed Punchestown’s opening Ladbrokes P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase Winner of the 2021 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham and runner-up to Corach Rambler in the 2023 National, Vanillier today ended a 17-race losing spell stretching to November 2021. Ridden by Keith Donoghue, Vanillier led from the 10th fence and made the rest of the running in the 26-obstacle race, scoring effortlessly by 18 lengths, from fellow 10-year-old grey Coco Beach. Cromwell, who bagged three high-profile Dublin Racing Festival wins last weekend, reported “it’s great to see Vanillier back winning again as I thought he’d lost his way a bit. Just recently for whatever reason he’s really sharpened up and blinkers were a help today. “He’s entered in the National and we have the option of the Cross Country in Cheltenham, but I don’t know exactly where we’re going to go. I’m delighted that he’s back motoring again and he enjoyed it. “He’s on a mark that he might not get into the National, but this run today might help. The fact that he’s in form and has Aintree form too, he (the handicapper) might give him a little bit more.” Quotes from Alan Magee
