Articulum takes the bumper at Naas

Terence O'Brien views Articulum as a nice staying chaser in the making after saddling the son of Definite Article to take the Tipper Road (Pro-Am) bumper at Naas.

Well supported on course from 9/2 into 7/2, the six-year-old struck the front two furlongs from home.

Patrick Collins' mount kept on well inside the final furlong to beat Woods Well by four lengths, with Cappuccino Man another two lengths away in third. The Comediologist was sent off the 4/6 favourite on debut but could find no extra under pressure in the straight finishing fourth.

O'Brien said, "“I'm delighted with that. He had the form in the book. We've always thought he was a nice horse and he won his point-to-point well last year. He's such a big horse it took him a while to come to himself in bumpers.

“It's January now so he might go for another bumper and we'll keep his novice status (over hurdles) for next year.

“I don't think he's slow and he could even drop back to two miles. He's probably a three-mile chaser in the long run as he's a big massive horse.”

(GC & AM)