El Fabiolo has put himself firmly in the Arkle picture with a stunning success on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse.
After winning convincingly on his first start for Willie Mullins at Tramore on New Year’s Day, the five-year-old did not run again until the spring where he pushed Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon close in a Grade One novice hurdle at Aintree.
On the strength of that form, he was a short price for his reappearance and first start over the larger obstacles in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase and the result was never really in doubt. Ridden by Paul Townend, the 1-5 favourite went straight to the lead and quickly opened up a significant advantage over his rivals.
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He made a couple of minor jumping errors, particularly at the second fence from the finish, but it did not prevent him from scoring by 19 lengths from Colonel Mustard.
Coral cut El Fabiolo to 4-1 from 6-1 for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival in March, making him their joint second-favourite alongside stablemate Appreciate It, who was similarly impressive on his fencing bow at Punchestown on Monday.
Jonbon remains at the head of the market at 11-8.
“He’ll learn from that, I think. He’s not there yet but there is a brilliant jump in him,” Townend said of El Fabiolo.
“He didn’t have much racing last year but I think he’s going to be a smart horse. His run against Jonbon looks good now.
“He looked like a chaser and he probably wasn’t over-raced for that reason last year.
“A better race will suit him and he could end up going up in trip as well – he’s versatile enough I think.”
Mullins and Townend went on to complete a double over fences, with 2-1 favourite Ha D’Or also proving much too good for his rivals in the NavanRacecourse.ie Rated Novice Chase.
Townend added: “He was like a handicapper the whole way around – you wouldn’t think it was his first time (over fences).
“He had a look at the outside of the wing at the last, but I was coming close enough to it I suppose. Once I straightened him up, he was very good at sorting himself out again.
“He feels a more relaxed horse this year and he’s grown up a lot, which will be a big help to him.”
The Gordon Elliott-trained Jazzy Matty was made to work a little harder to justify favouritism in the Thanks To All Our Sponsors In 2022 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle under Jack Kennedy.
Runner-up on his Irish debut at Navan last month, the half-brother to top-class stablemate Delta Work went one better by three-quarters of a length from Komedy Kicks.
“Jack said he wasn’t doing a stroke the whole way up the straight and he pricked his ears,” said Elliott.
“He was bought to be a chaser – he’s a half-brother to Delta Work. He’s a fine, big horse and he looks like a chaser too.
“I don’t know where we go with him next. We’ll keep it small.”
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