'Hopefully there's still a bit of fun to be had' - The Big Chap powers home to land Gowran Park feature for local syndicate

The Big Chap proved a popular winner for Paul Flynn in the colours of the local Glenmore Goes Racing Syndicate as he stayed on strongly to overhaul long-time leader Gaelic Arc in the feature 2m handicap chase.

It was a tight betting heat among the four participants and the well-backed 13-8 favourite Gaelic Arc cut out much of the running, but The Big Chap jumped on terms at the third last before galloping on powerfully to land his seventh success at odds of 5-2.

Winning rider Danny Gilligan said: "He's a good horse when things go his way. He jumps for fun. He was just doing the bare minimum, so hopefully there's still a bit of fun to be had. 

"I won over two and a half on him and it was back to two miles today, so I knew he'd stay galloping to the line and thankfully it worked out."

Nara impresses

Henry de Bromhead seems to have another smart novice chaser on his hands as Nara justified favouritism in stylish fashion when gliding seven and a half lengths clear of Dame Rapide in the opening 2m beginners chase.

The four-year-old had some good form from her juvenile campaign, including a seventh-placed finish in the Boodles at Cheltenham before finishing third in a handicap at the Punchestown festival.

She seems well placed to scale greater heights over fences for owner JP McManus, and de Bromhead said: "She was a bit careful over the first couple, but once she got her confidence she was brilliant. Mark [Walsh] was brilliant on her.

"She's a fine, big mare. She had a couple of nice runs over hurdles last season and probably has a preference for nicer ground."

Casheldale Lad and Jack Kennedy on the way to winning the 2m maiden hurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Casheldale cruises clear

Jack Kennedy steered the Gordon Elliott-trained Casheldale Lad to an impressive success on his jumping debut in the 2m maiden hurdle as the 15-8 favourite showed a potent turn of foot to charge 13 lengths clear of Harry's Dream.

Having landed a 1m1f Punchestown maiden on the Flat for Andrew Kinirons in September 2023, the Raven's Pass gelding was snapped up by Bective Stud and looks a shrewd acquisition.

Kennedy said: "He did it well. He jumped good overall but had a couple of little mistakes, one down the back and he got in under the last as well. For a horse to do that much and be able to quicken up again down to the second last shows he obviously has an engine."

Gambles landed

Plenty of bets were landed in the closing three handicaps on the card as Sonny May (4-1), Delias Pet (7-2) and Colleen Danu (11-4) all came home in front.

The Denis Hickey-trained Sonny May, who was available at 16-1 in the morning, gave his supporters little cause for concern in the 2m novice handicap hurdle as Sean O'Keeffe was always travelling well and steered his mount to a three and a half length victory over Disco Dancer.

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