Read what Henry de Bromhead has to say as the brilliant Bob Olinger returns

Sunday: 2.20 Punchestown
Kildare Novice Chase (Grade 3) | 2m4f | 5yo+ | RTV

When you win the Ballymore in the extraordinary manner that Bob Olinger did, expectations will automatically soar. He instantly transformed from a very good horse into a potentially great one.

It looked an above-average Ballymore too, with three of the field rated in the 150s, but Bob Olinger blew them apart.

Bravemansgame had the run of the race out in front but had absolutely no answers to the questions Rachael Blackmore posed when she appeared on his outside after the second-last. He is now the best novice chaser in Britain, rated 156, and second favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. Bob Olinger made him look very ordinary indeed.

Gaillard Du Mesnil, who renews rivalry with Bob Olinger here, stayed on into second in the Ballymore but could not land a glove on the exciting son of Sholokhov. It is hard to envisage that form being reversed here given what we saw from them both on their chasing debuts.

Unless Bob Olinger won by half the track without touching a twig, not everyone was going to be satisfied at Gowran Park. It was his first try over fences and we shouldn't have expected it to be flawless. It wasn't. He pecked on landing at the third-last and went left at the last, but otherwise it was a pretty accomplished round of jumping. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, he is in the best possible place for that part of his game to improve too.

Bob Olinger earned an RPR of 155 for that chasing debut and, while there are mixed messages about the form with Bacardys running poorly next time at Leopardstown, it is worth noting Master McShee (third) won the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase afterwards.

Bob Olinger was ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe for his chasing debut at Gowran, but Rachael Blackmore will be back on board at PunchestownCredit: Caroline Norris

The Turners Novices' Chase, formerly the Marsh and the JLT, would appear the logical place for him to go at Cheltenham and he is 6-4 with both bet365 and Paddy Power to register back-to-back wins at the festival in that.

Blackmore takes over from Darragh O'Keeffe in the saddle. She was on duty at Haydock, winning the Betfair Chase on A Plus Tard, when Bob Olinger won his beginners' chase at Gowran.

Gaillard Du Mesnil was 4-11 to make a smooth transition to his own chasing career at Naas last month but he found little for pressure and a mistake at the last sealed his fate.

The poser for punters is to decide whether it was fitness that caught him out or the defeat ran deeper than that.

Capodanno won that beginners' chase at Naas despite a dreadful error at the second-last and he defied an in-running high of 569-1 on Betfair in the process. It was a remarkable performance from a 147-rated hurdler who should not be underestimated. You would imagine Bob Olinger might have too much pace for him here, though.

Lifetime Ambition and Lieutenant Command both had their limitations exposed last time and look up against it.

This is all about Bob Olinger, arguably the most exciting horse in training, and whether he will live up to his billing. Our expectations have never been higher.

De Bromhead: 'He worked nicely earlier in the week and I'm happy with him'

Henry de Bromhead reports Bob Olinger to be ready for his next assignment over fences after impressing the trainer in a piece of work on Tuesday morning.

De Bromhead said: "He worked nicely earlier in the week and I'm happy with him. He seems well in himself. He was good at Gowran, it wasn't spectacular but it was fine. He jumped some really well but there were a couple he didn't jump so well. But it was good and he won. It looked a very good beginners' chase.

"He's doing plenty of schooling. He's jumping fine at home so we have no reason to worry about that having had that experience behind him. We're looking forward to the race."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Capodanno and Gaillard Du Mesnil
I think Capodanno will love the trip and we know he loves the ground. I really think he has the ability to give Bob Olinger a good run for his money, he jumps and gallops. He made up a lot of ground after an uncharacteristic mistake at the second-last to win at Naas on his chasing debut and, with a clear round of jumping here, he's going to be very competitive. Gaillard Du Mesnil was third behind Capodanno at Naas and with a lack of beginners' chases available we have to run here. He benefited from his first run last season and has the class to be competitive here but will need to leave the last run behind him. Timing-wise this gives us an opportunity to get a run here and maybe another before he goes to Cheltenham.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Forged In Fire
It looks a very hot race so it won't be easy for him. He won nicely at Tipperary in the summer and seems a nice horse but this is a tough ask.

Kate Harrington, assistant to Jessica Harrington, trainer of Lifetime Ambition
We missed Christmas with him because he gave himself an overreach whilst schooling and we knew dropping back to two miles at Naas was going to be a big ask for him last time. The main reason we went to Naas was to get a nice round of jumping into him, because he didn't jump as well as he can do in the Drinmore, so we were delighted with that aspect of his performance. We are going to use his jumping here and we are very happy with him.

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