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Bob Olinger ready to pop at Cheltenham after fizzing Punchestown win

Bob Olinger put in a sparking performance at Punchestown, only adding to the weight of favouritism for the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham 2022 under Rachael Blackmore.

Bob Olinger laid down a Cheltenham Festival marker with a good looking win in the the Kildare Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Henry De Bromhead's seven-year-old, a dual Grade One 1 victor last term, had triumphed on his chasing debut at Gowran in November although his jumping was bitty on that showing.

However, it was an impressive performance in this Grade 3, with Rachael Blackmore happy to bide her time early on, with Lifetime Ambition and Capodanno setting the early gallop.

As three fences down the back straight we scratched due to the sun, it meant a long run to the third-last with Bob Olinger travelling well for Blackmore.

The Grand National winning jockey had to cajole the 1-2 favourite turning in, but once Bob Olinger got into gear, he swiftly put the race to bed, leaping the last in fine style before winning by four and three-quarter lengths from the game Capodanno. Gaillard Du Mesnil plugged on for third, beaten a further 27 lengths.

The progressive Bob Olinger is now the evens favourite for the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham with both Coral and Paddy Power.
De Bromhead was taken with Bob Olinger's performance and felt he had progressed from his Gowran victory.
He said: "He was really good and Rachael was really happy with him. He jumped great and it was a class race.
"He'd come on a hell of a lot since Gowran and I think the experience he got there has really stood to him.
"The second is obviously a good horse and the pair of them have pulled clear. Thankfully our man kept going."
De Bromhead initially indicated he would look towards Leopardstown next month for Bob Olinger, if conditions allow.
He added: "The Dublin Racing Festival is the plan subject to ground. There would want to be a good ease in the ground.
"It seems our best option. It's three weeks and I think that's the plan at the moment.
"He's got a lot of class and a great attitude."
However, he later told Racing TV: "He was probably going there (Leopardstown) before today, now I don't know. We might need to think twice about it. We'll see how it unfolds.
"That's what we were doing, but the way he jumped there today, we'll see. Nothing is set in stone."

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