'He's got class, loads of class' - De Bromhead thrilled by brilliant Bob Olinger

Sunday: Punchestown

In a season where we seem to be showered with stunning displays from top-notch novices every other week, Bob Olinger issued us with a gentle but glorious reminder that he might still be the best of the lot. Just as we had predicted at the beginning of the campaign.

There was a fleeting moment, just as they turned for home, when it looked like Capodanno was going to cause him a bit of bother. Then the turbo kicked in. It was sheer class. And it is that class which makes Bob Olinger so good according to Henry de Bromhead.

"Class, he's just got a lot of class," replied the trainer when asked what Bob Olinger has got that others don't following his fifth straight win in the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The winning margin told some of the story, but perhaps the distance back to the third told us more.

Bob Olinger won by four and three-quarter lengths and there were a further 27 lengths back to the 150-rated hurdler Gaillard Du Mesnil in third spot. There was not only style to this performance but substance too.

Paddy Power cut him to evens from 6-4 for the Turners Novices' Chase, formerly the Marsh and the JLT, while BoyleSports go 4-6.

The good news, great news in fact, is that we are likely to see him again before then at the Dublin Racing Festival where a sumptuous showdown with Galopin Des Champs could be on the cards in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase. Now if that doesn't get you giddy, you're following the wrong sport.

"I'd say the Dublin Racing Festival is the plan, subject to ground," De Bromhead told us afterwards.

"There would want to be a good ease in the ground, but that's where we were hoping to go to. It seems the best option. We said we would come here after Gowran and then go there. It's three weeks and that's the plan at the moment.

"We'll enjoy today first, though. That was a savage race and, Jesus, to see the performance he put in was brilliant. To see the way he jumped was brilliant too."

Thrilled owner Brian Acheson gives Bob Olinger a pat after his Punchestown victoryCredit: Patrick McCann

It was indeed brilliant and, boy, did he need to be brilliant. Capodanno, who defied a high of 569-1 in-running on the exchanges to win at Naas after an horrendous mistake two out, made him work hard to make it two from two over fences. He kicked for home after three out and it was going to take something a bit special to stop him. We all know by now that Bob Olinger is special, though.

"It was a class race and I was amazed at the price he was going into it," De Bromhead added.

"I thought he jumped really well. He had come on a hell of a lot since Gowran and I think the experience he got there has really stood to him.

"The second horse is obviously very good and he won a handicap hurdle at the festival here in April by a long way. He was good at Naas and the pair of them pulled a long way clear of a lot of very good horses. Thankfully, our man kept going. I'm delighted he did it."

The sense of relief on De Bromhead's face was palpable.

"I was nervous," he admitted afterwards. "I'm nervous when a lot of them are running. They all have different stories and you'd be nervous for different reasons, but yes, absolutely, he would definitely get to me. All of them do, especially those top guys or girls!"

Don't for one second think that Bob Olinger has beaten nothing here. David Casey, assistant trainer to Willie Mullins, had some very nice things to say about Capodanno afterwards.

Casey said: "He ran a cracker. Bob Olinger is just a very good horse, but we were delighted with the way our lad ran. Mark [Walsh] said he jumped brilliant and ran a great race. He's always showed us plenty, and without the mistake at Naas he probably would have won by five lengths.

"Look at the size of him, he's a gorgeous-looking horse. He was always going to be a better chaser than hurdler and he reached a high level over hurdles as well."

So too did Ballymore winner Bob Olinger. And, on this evidence, he might just be even better over fences. What a scary thought that is.

Watch: Bob Olinger makes it two from two over fences at Punchestown

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