Ornua

Ornua did well to beat Cadmium in the Grade 3 2m novices' chase.

Usually a bit of a trailblazer, Henry de Bromhead's horse missed the start a little here, but Dylan Robinson was happy to allow him settle in behind horses. He travelled well in behind, he jumped well and he jumped to the front over the second last fence in the back straight. Cadmium quickly moved into his slipstream around the home turn, but it always looked as if Ornua was travelling the better, and a mistake by Cadmium at the second last did not help Willie Mullins' horse's chance.

That said, Ornua was very good. His jumping was accurate, he travelled well, he stayed on well all the way to the line, and he clocked a good time. Just beaten by Rashaan in a similar contest at the Galway Festival, he is only seven, and this was just his fifth run over fences, so he has lots of potential for progression. Also, the fact that he was happy to settle in behind horses gives him more options from a tactical point of view. His trainer mentioned the Grade 3 Buck House Chase at Punchestown as a possible target now, and that would be a logical step.

Roscommon, 1^st October 2018

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