High noon: brilliant Ballymore winner Bob Olinger debuts over fences

Saturday: 12.00 Gowran Park
Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

Bob Olinger, the brilliant Ballymore winner who is already a hot favourite for the Marsh Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, will have a new jockey for his chasing debut at Gowran Park as 20-year-old Darragh O'Keeffe replaces Rachael Blackmore, who will be on A Plus Tard in the Betfair Chase.

The early pacesetter in the Irish jockeys' championship is no stranger to big-race call-ups as he won last year's Savills Chase at Leopardstown on A Plus Tard when Blackmore opted to ride subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo.

O'Keeffe has described deputising for Blackmore on Bob Olinger in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase at noon on Saturday as "an unbelievable opportunity" and spoke of being blown away by his performance at Cheltenham in March.

O'Keeffe told the Racing Post: "It's an unbelievable opportunity to get the chance to ride a horse like him. I will never forget being at Cheltenham and seeing the way he won the Ballymore.

"We were all in the Irish bubble in the Best Mate enclosure and he was the only horse for the entire week who came past us up the run-in and still looked full of running. He could have gone around again."

Bob Olinger: faces 17 rivals on SaturdayCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

It will be the first time O'Keeffe has sat on Bob Olinger in public but he has got to know him at home.

He said: "I've schooled him and that has all gone well. Touch wood, he will bring that to the track. Everybody at home seems to be very happy with him and we're all looking forward to getting him started over fences.

"I just can't thank Henry de Bromhead and Robcour [owners] enough for giving me the opportunity to ride a horse like him. These are the types of horses you want to be riding and I'm very grateful for them to have the confidence in me to ride him."

De Bromhead. who reports Bob Olinger to be in tip-top shape ahead of his eagerly awaited chasing debut, said: "Bob seems to be in very good form and we're very happy with him. The chase course at Gowran is soft at the moment, so that will be fine for him. We're looking forward to getting him started over fences."

O'Keeffe's association with De Bromhead has helped him assume pole position in the Irish jump jockeys' championship this season. He has already ridden 43 winners, six more than Jordan Gainford in second.

O'Keeffe said: "Henry has been brilliant for my career. It was great to get a Grade 1 winner so soon after losing my claim. He has helped me get to the next stage and when Rachael was out injured during the summer he gave me loads of opportunities.

"Rachael has been brilliant too. I can ask her about any horse and she always provides me with great advice. She's always been very helpful. She's just a top sportswoman, isn't she?"

Bob Olinger, a general 5-2 shot for the Marsh and biggest with bet365 at 11-4, faces 17 rivals at Gowran Park among whom is 146-rated hurdler Ashdale Bob, a Grade 2 winner at Fairyhouse in April, as well as Bacardys, Diol Ker, Coqolino and Column Of Fire. It is quite a spicy affair.

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