BOB OLINGER AND Captain Guinness returned to winning ways to provide Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore with a Graded race double at Navan.
Lismullen Hurdle winner Bob Olinger was victorious for the first time since the Cheltenham Festival of March 2022, when the beneficiary of the late fall of Galopin Des Champs, and had struggled to hit the heights that once looked likely as a novice hurdler.
Having travelled supremely well for Blackmore when still hard on the bridle on the run to the last between Home By The Lee and Zanahiyr, it briefly looked like he would flatter to deceive once again.
🔥 The fire still burns for Bob Olinger
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 18, 2023
The dual Cheltenham Festival hero records a first victory since March 2022 as he gets the better of a cracking tussle with Zanahiyr in the G2 Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle@HenrydeBromhead | @rachaelblackmor | @NavanRacecourse pic.twitter.com/ze1v17PYsZ
When Blackmore initially asked him to quicken, the response was not immediate and Zanahiyr went on, but eventually Bob Olinger (15-8) did begin to find for pressure and ultimately was a good winner.
He went on to win by a length from the 5-4 favourite, with Home By The Lee, giving 9lb to all, a creditable third in trying to replicate last year’s win.
🚀 Brilliant performance
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 18, 2023
Captain Guinness routs his rivals to land the G2 @BarOneRacing Fortria Chase for the second year in succession, giving @rachaelblackmor & @HenrydeBromhead a quickfire double at @NavanRacecourse pic.twitter.com/top8iuCC4U
Captain Guinness repeated his victory in the Bar One Fortria Chase, again beating last year’s runner-up Riviere D’etel, this time by seven lengths.
Dysart Dynamo was the 4-5 favourite but he found disappointingly little for Paul Townend in the straight and Blackmore always looked to have him covered.
