Sea Of Thunder made the perfect start to his career over fences with an impressive victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Christy Novice Chase at Clonmel.
The seven-year-old was unlucky not to win a Grade Two at Cheltenham last December after falling at the last, after which he ran at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festival.
Charles Byrnes' charge was unsurprisingly a warm order for his first start over larger obstacles, sent off the even-money favourite in the hands of Davy Russell.
His task was made easier by the withdrawal of a number of opponents, but it was still a fine performance as he came home 13 lengths ahead of Total Submission.
Byrne said: "The ground is everything to him and it won't be easy for him to get that ground again.
"He might go to Cheltenham now in November.
"Three miles on good ground is what he wants, he has no business going on soft ground."
