Vanillier delivers under Keith Donoghue© Photo Healy Racing
Strong-staying Vanillier came home clear of the other finisher Fancy Foundations in an incident-packed Grade 2 novice chase in Punchestown.
Last season's Albert Bartlett hero Vanillier set out to make use of his stamina over this extended two mile six trip but was headed three out by Ballyshannon Rose It was at that fence that third-running Sixshooter took a heavy fall.
Vanillier soon came off the bridle but responded to Keith Donoghue's urgings to grab a narrow lead off Ballyshannon Rose two out. The latter got it wrong and crashed out leaving Vanillier to come in 26 lengths clear of Fancy Foundations who plodded on for second.
Gavin Cromwell said: “He jumped well. I would have liked if something had joined him earlier in the race just to force a bit more pace into it. He’s just a dour stayer.
“With Sixshooter falling we’ll never know but I suppose jumping is the name of the game.
“I walked the track beforehand and it’s nice safe ground. Hopefully he’s ok in the morning as he’s a big horse and wants to get his toe in.
“There are two staying chases at Christmas, one at Leopardstown and one in Limerick. He’ll have an entry in both of them and we’ll see what the ground is like closer to the time.”
There was a sad postscript to this race as Sixshooter had to be put down after injuries sustained.
Paddy Power cut Vanillier from 16/1 to 10/1 for the National Hunt Chase.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
