Asterion Forlonge up and running over fences Asterion Forlonge, the 4/11 favourite, made a winning debut over fences in the opening beginners' chase at Punchestown. The six-year-old grey gelding was a Grade One winner over hurdles and was last seen finishing fourth when favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, where a propensity to jump right did him no favours. Conflated set out to make it a test from the front in this extended two mile three contest as Asterion Forlonge tracked him in a close second. The leader got in tight to the fourth last which enabled Asterion Forlonge to head him. Conflated jumped markedly left at the next and soon came under pressure to keep tabs with the grey. The odds-on favourite jumped right two out and stumbled and pecked upon landing but Paul Townend soon had him on an even keel again. The leader drew clear of Conflated before the last where he jumped to the right again but he wasn't extended in coasting home by six lengths. Conflated (8/1) finished second ahead of a staying-on Rebel Gold at 50/1. “It was a satisfactory introduction and I'll be going out in trip with him now, it'll be minimum two-and-a-half for the rest of the year,” said Willie Mullins. “I haven't any plans made for him yet but I was happy enough with that. “He jumped very well but obviously made that mistake at the second last and he got one wrong before the ditch but, by in large, I was happy with him for a first-time out novice chaser. “At the second last I was happy with the way, when it looked like he was going down, he found another leg and picked himself back up.” When asked if he enjoyed going right-handed he added: “Yeah, but it won't stop me going left-handed again with him.” “I'd say a longer trip will be a help going left-handed. We'd have time for a run before Christmas but it's not essential.” He won an Oldtown point-to-point over two and a half miles for Pat Doyle in February 2018. Paddy Power cut Asterion Forlonge from 33/1 to 25/1 for the Marsh Novices' Chase and kept him unchanged at 33/1 for the Arkle. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
