Galvin repeated last season's success in the Irish Daily Star – Best For Racing Coverage Chase with ease at Punchestown.
Having conceded 8lbs to take the Grade Three prize last season, Gordon Elliott’s crack staying chaser made light work of his four rivals giving away 12lbs.
Having stalked the decent pace set by Politesse, he jumped between the mare and stablemate Run Wild Fred at the third-last, before Davy Russell’s mount drew clear between the last two fences, cruising to a five-and-a-half-length success.
Top-class performers such as Kicking King, War Of Attrition and Don Cossack have won this three-mile event in recent times and having justified odds of 11-10 at the head of the market, the eight-year-old had his price clipped for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he finished fourth to A Plus Tard in March.
Elliott said: "Davy said he jumped like a buck from fence to fence. Fitness-wise, he is probably a little bit behind where he was last year and he’ll come on for it, but it’s a nice start. He’ll head now to Down Royal probably along with Conflated.
"He doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He keeps pulling it out every year and we are lucky to have him."
🏇 Galvin repeats his success from 12 months ago in the Irish Daily Star - Best For Racing Coverage Chase for Davy Russell and Gordon Elliott 👏👏@_Davy_Russel_ @IsFearrAnStar pic.twitter.com/77RBXmipVF
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) October 12, 2022
Willie Mullins has his string in fine early-season form, as witnessed by Adamantly Chosen (6-5F) who ran out a ready winner of the Grade Three Buck House Novice Chase.
The five-year-old had managed to win just one of his six starts over hurdles, yet began his chasing career with an easy win at Listowel last month.
Upped in class, the favourite made a hash of the first fence, but soon warmed to the task and in the end proved far too good for his five rivals in the extended two-and-a-quarter-mile event.
He thereafter jumped with plenty of fluency under Danny Mullins, going on to score readily by three and three-quarter lengths.
Adamantly Chosen could now head straight to the Drinmore Novices' Chase at Fairyhouse.
The winning trainer said: "I was very impressed with his jumping, albeit that he made that bad mistake early on. He jumped from fence to fence, likes that ground and going right-handed seems to suit him.
"Danny thought he wouldn’t have any problem going out in trip either. We’ll have to take a look at the Drinmore and I don’t think he’d want a run in between."
Adamantly Chosen makes it two for two over fences after landing the Buck House Novice Chase for Danny Mullins and @WillieMullinsNH 👏 pic.twitter.com/YT2X0AtqPJ
— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) October 12, 2022
Marine Nationale (4-9F) took his unbeaten run to three when scoring impressively on his hurdling debut under Michael O’Sullivan.
The dual bumper winner, trained by Barry Connell, was four lengths too good for Viceregent in the two-mile maiden hurdle and won with plenty in hand.
Connell is looking to step Marine Nationale up in class after giving him a little more experience.
"He jumped well and has schooled well at home," the trainer said. "Sam Curling had him as a four-year-old and he was ready to run in point-to-points so he had loads of that done.
"He could probably do with another run and may go for a Grade Three in Navan (For Auction Novice Hurdle, on 13 November) with a view, if he’s still on track, to going for the Royal Bond after that."
