Twinlight, left, and Dylan Ross, who fell at the second last in Naas© Photo Healy Racing
Twinlight was the ready winner of the featured Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase in Naas for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.
The six-year-old French-bred gelding made headway to lead after two out and Walsh was almost motionless on the run-in as the pair scored by seven lengths at 11/4. Oscars Well who was multiple Grade 1 placed in novice chases last season, was well backed by punters from 9/4 this morning to an SP of 11/8 favourite. He had no answer to the winner when headed after the second last, but kept on for second.
“That’s a big improvement. He came in very strong, I was very happy with him when he came in from grass. He’s much stronger than last year,” Willie Mullins said.
“He didn’t get a break last year, he was on the go during the summer. It looks like a fair improvement in form to take on a field of horses like that and to beat them the way he did.
“I imagine we’ll keep him at two miles. I was thinking with the strength of him he might go two and a quarter or two and a half miles.
“He obviously doesn’t have to make the running. Ruby sat in behind today. That gives us more options if we do decide to go over longer trips.” Dylan Ross unseated Robbie Power at the second last. Power was stood down for the day after the fall.
Twinlight had scored at Grade 2 and Grade 3 level in novice chases last year in Punchestown and Galway respectively.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
