Chancol© Photo Healy Racing
< Chancol (13-8) made an impressive start to his fencing career in the Book New Years Eve Panoramic Restaurant Beginners Chase at Punchestown.
The Noel Meade-trained five-year-old was a very promising novice hurdler last term and looks set to take even higher rank at this discipline.
He took the lead off a good yardstick in Mr Fiftyone early in the straight and a sure-footed leap at the last helped seal a three-and-a-quarter-length victory.
Meade unleashed another bright prospect in Wounded Warrior but he had to settle for second behind Shanahan's Turn in the Ballymore Christmas Fair & Family Fun November Festival Beginners Chase.
The winner kept top company as a novice hurdler last season, so the result was hardly a surprise, and he should take in some high-class contests in this sphere, judging by his all-the-way three-and-three-quarter-length win as the 9-10 favourite.< Drumacoo produced an accomplished display on his return to obstacles in the Go Racing In Kildare 2015 Maiden Hurdle.
The 11-10 market leader boosted his confidence in a Downpatrick bumper a couple of weeks ago and travelled strongly in the hands of Barry Geraghty who, after jumping to the front at the last, eased him two and a quarter lengths ahead of Roi Des Francs < Mr Diablo (11-4) still looks far from the finished article but showed plenty of talent to turn over odds-on favourite Wrath Of Titans in the Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter Maiden Hurdle, getting the best of a duel after the last by half a length.< Jack The Hat (10-1) has been switched from Noel Lawlor to Liz Doyle's team since running at the Listowel Festival, and the change of scenery has obviously done him good because he put his best foot forward to claim the Punchestown Annual Membership 2015 Handicap Chase.< Stop Road Lad (4-1) broke through at the 21st attempt in the Panoramic Restaurant Package Handicap Hurdle, while the Thoroughbred County INH Flat Race fell to newcomer Rock On The Moor
