The opening race on Day 4 of the Galway Festival, the Perfect Pint Beginners Chase, went to the Dermot Weld trained, Robbie McNamara ridden, Daffern Seal who was sent off the 11/4 favourite.
The 7yo son of Fruits Of Love was having just his third career start today, having run in a bumper in Cork in January of 2010, before making a successful return to action at Kilbeggan last month when winning his maiden hurdle by an impressive thirteen lengths.
In the colours of Dr Ronan Lambe (who was recording his fifth winner of the week), the winner on his chasing debut, soon led and jumped well throughout the race. He kicked clear approaching the straight and stayed on well up the stands rail to score by a comfortable five lengths. Traffic Article finished in the runner-up spot for the third time in succession at 7/2 (backed from 5/1 this morning) for Gordon Elliott and Paul Carberry while there was a further nine lengths back to the third, Mr Noise also at 7/2 for Dessie Hughes and Bryan Cooper.
Winning trainer Dermot Weld, who was recording his eighth winner of the week, said afterwards "Robbie gave him a lovely ride. The plan was to make all or be handy.
"Hopefully he will have a big future over fences now.
"He is a lovely moving horse, but he wants good ground and we will take it in stages with him now.
"He done a schooling session with Majestic Concorde recently and he learned how to jump from him."
There was plenty of carnage in the race with Captain Dash falling at the first, Coole Avenue at the third and in the process bringing down The Real Tyson while English raider Strong Soul pulled up lame before five out.
Donal Murphy
