Flyer battles to Grade 2 success

The Colin Bowe trained Shantou Flyer completed a hat-trick of wins as he took the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase under amateur rider Barry O'Neill.

Successful at Sligo in September the son of Shantou followed-up in Cheltenham on his last start.

Vincente finished third there and he gave the form a boost by beating Un Temps Pour Tout yesterday.

Available at 3/1 last night, Shantou Flyer proved easy to back, starting at 4's on-course before going off a 5/1 chance.

Having raced mainly in second he took closer order from the ninth and was on terms from before the fourth last.

He was pushed along to lead before two out and he kept on well under pressure from there, going on to score by a length and a quarter. Captain Von Trappe finished second at 9/2 under David Mullins for Gordon Elliott, while Killer Miller was a further half a length back in third under Mark Walsh for Noel Meade.

Killer Miller was sent off the 13/8 favourite and his jumping ultimately let him down.

Colin Bowe said afterwards: "He was very good. He went on soft ground before in Navan so we knew the ground would probably be okay but I was surprised how well he handled it.

"He might go now for the Fort Leney over three miles at Leopardstown and then go to Cheltenham for the four-miler.

"Barry said he was very professional today and jumped brilliant. Even when he stuck him in short he was very good and I'm delighted with that.

"He stays very well and he's improving all the time. He's thriving with racing and is in good form. We'll play it by ear with him."

Barry O'Neill added: "He helped me everywhere, all the way to the line. He jumped superb, I was always very comfortable throughout and he is very, very tough.

"Mark (Walsh) would have been riding him only for he had to ride for JP so I was delighted to get the call.

"I was supposed to be a point-to-point in Longford today but I said I'd give it a miss.

"I won a Grade 2 Hurdle before on Askanna at the Punchestown Festival in 2011."

STEWARDS REPORT

B.J. Cooper, rider of Wrath Of Titans trained by Ms. Sandra Hughes, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount made a bad mistake and never travelled thereafter.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson