No heart issues this time as impressive Captain Guinness earns 20-1 Arkle quote

A novice chase campaign that seemed to hit a brick wall before it even started a couple of months ago hit top gear at Punchestown on Friday, with the highly promising Captain Guinness putting in a flawless display in the 2m beginners' chase.

Captain Guinness, who was cut to 20-1 (from 33) by Paddy Power for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March, was pulled up on his chasing debut at Tipperary in October, when he was diagnosed with an atrial fibrillation. It meant his heart was out of rhythm, a similar ailment to that with which Denman and Sprinter Sacre were diagnosed.

Watch the replay: GAIN Supporting Laois GAA Beginners Chase

It has not been impossible to overcome though. Captain Guinness was fresh and keen here and put in an impeccable round of jumping, picking up well for Rachael Blackmore to score by four and three-quarter lengths.

A horse best known for being unluckily brought down two out when still in with every chance in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in March, he could well be capable of improving on that over fences on this evidence.

Blackmore said: "He was very good. I thought we went a very strong gallop for that ground, but I didn't have much choice in the matter! I was very happy with him."

Captain Guinness's trainer Henry de Bromhead: 'His jumping looked deadly'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Asked what he had been able to do with the horse since Tipperary, De Bromhead said: "He did one piece of work and worked really well. Otherwise we have just been tipping away, we keep monitoring his heart and hope that it doesn't happen again. It's something we are keeping a constant eye on and it's something that will be checked before and after he runs.

"I hope he can continue the way he's going. His jumping looked deadly and Rachael said the ground is very testing and he'll be even better on nicer ground.

"Christmas just feels like it's going to come too soon for him, we might go for a nice race at Naas in early January. Hopefully we can then head for the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown."

The Arkle market is headed by the Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin at a top-priced 6-4, with last Saturday's impressive Sandown winner Allmankind next best at 10-1.

Molloy falls foul of stewards
Young rider Michael Molloy was in hot water with the stewards after this race after they enquired into the running and riding of the Tony Martin-trained All The Best, who finished tenth, beaten all of 120 lengths. He was issued with a ten-day ban and the horse was suspended for 42 days.

Molloy stated that his instructions were to jump off three quarters of the way back, get his mount jumping and do his best from there.

Martin's representative Cathy O'Leary confirmed this, but expressed dissatisfaction with the ride as she felt the rider had the horse "far too far back" and had no chance from that position. She also stated that the rider could have been much harder on his mount.

The stewards noted that explanation, but banned Molloy under rule 212 A (ii), in that he was not seen to have achieved timely, real and substantial effort from his mount.

Pleasure prevails
Cork trainer Sean O'Brien had been on the cold list for almost two years since R'evelyn Pleasure scored at Fairyhouse in January last year, and it was the same horse that came to his rescue at Punchestown as he landed the 2m4f handicap hurdle under Donagh Meyler.

"It's great to speak to you again," said O'Brien, not something we hear very often. He added: "He's been some servant to us and I'm delighted for his owner Mark McDonagh who has been a great supporter of mine. And to his son Mark junior, who has ridden this horse and has played his part, he might have been riding him today but for injury."

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