Capodanno comes of age in Champion Novice Chase as Bob Olinger fails to fire

Tuesday: Champion Novice Chase, Punchestown

There was a feeling of deja vu about the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase as Bob Olinger, just like stablemate Envoi Allen a year earlier, failed to fire and was pulled up in a Grade 1 dominated by Capodanno, who trainer Willie Mullins labelled a potential "Gold Cup horse".

With Henry de Bromhead content that Bob Olinger had overcome his muscle tear picked up when running out a fortuitous winner of the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham, the previously unbeaten chaser was sent off the 6-5 favourite to record a fourth top-level success.

After jumping out to his right at the first couple of fences, last season's brilliant Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner appeared to settle into the race well enough, but the writing was on the wall after the fifth last when Rachael Blackmore coaxed her mount along for more.

Capodanno: cut to 20-1 (from 33) for next year's Boodles Cheltenham Gold CupCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

All the while, Capodanno, ridden much more positively by Mark Walsh than when fourth behind L'Homme Presse in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, was beginning to get his rivals on the stretch.

Blackmore accepted defeat aboard Bob Olinger, who had shown superior gears to Capodanno when beating that rival by four and three-quarter lengths over 2m4f in January. He was pulled up before the third last, a fence earlier than when Envoi Allen was pulled up last year.

Sent off 11-4, the JP McManus-owned stayer galloped on relentlessly to finish six and a half lengths in front of the gallant Lifetime Ambition, with Mildmay Novices' Chase runner-up Fury Road a further nine lengths back in third.

Bob Olinger was found to be post race normal when examined by the IHRB veterinary officer, with samples were taken for further analysis, and Blackmore said: "He was disappointing but we'll have him back again."

Mark Walsh on Capodanno: 'He was brilliant today and made lengths at most of his fences'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The favourite's no-show should not overshadow an excellent display from Capodanno, though, as he followed up his easy 12-length win in a handicap hurdle at this festival last year.

Mullins said: "I just felt coming out of Cheltenham we didn't do the right thing, and Mark felt the same. He wanted to be positive and that suited me. We hadn't been bold enough in bigger races before but thankfully it worked out here.

"Hopefully we might have a Gold Cup horse on our hands. He loves to gallop and jump, and usually the Gold Cup is on nice ground so that will do us."

Walsh added of the now 20-1 chance (from 33) for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup: "He was brilliant today and made lengths at most of his fences. Once I gave him a squeeze down the straight I knew I had something left."

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