Star bumper horse Dunguib is going to take similar high rank over hurdles if his most impressive debut over obstacles in the CCTV Venue Control Maiden Hurdle is anything to go by. The 1/7 shot didn't need to be asked any questions by his amateur pilot, Brian O'Connell, to beat An Toileanach by four lengths.
Philip Fenton's Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner, who lost the Punchestown equivalent after a prohibited substance was found in a sample, jumped well apart from being awkward at the fourth and he led under restraint at the last. When given an inch of rein on the run-in, the six-year-old strode clear in the style of the exceptional performer that he is.
Understandably winning trainer, Philip Fenton was a happy man and he said: "That was excellent - a nice intro to hurdles and it'll be onwards and upwards from here. He'd probably settle better in a quicker run race. He was far from a natural when he started schooling but we schooled him over all sorts. He was schooled as early as after Cheltenham. We've no immediate plans but the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse next month would be an obvious target or maybe a winners of one somewhere. He has bundles of pace and two miles is probably far enough for him."
