Dunguib lights up Fairyhouse

Odds-on favourite Dunguib maintained his unbeaten record over fences with another eye-catching victory in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Philip Fenton's six-year-old landed last season's Cheltenham bumper by a wide margin and looks like being every inch as good over hurdles.

Having had two easy tasks to date, his rivals in this Grade One contest were supposed to throw down a much sterner challenge.

But the 30-100 favourite never looked in any danger whatsoever as Brian O'Connell steered the Supreme Novices' Hurdle ante-post favourite to a seven-length success over Some Present.

Excellent

Fenton said: "I suppose you'd have to say you were very impressed.

"He seemed to be in control a long way out and you'd have to be impressed with his jumping - he was excellent.

"The gallop was nice and he travelled well, apart from the one mistake.

"His jumping is getting better and better and he was excellent over the last two."

Tom Mullins ran a pacemaker for Some Present, with Deise Dan taking the field along at a nice tempo for the first mile and a half.

Having dropped off the leaders at halfway, Some Present then rushed up the inside of his stablemate at the head of affairs, with Tony McCoy moving up on Sweeps Hill.

However O'Connell, riding his first winner since turning professional last week, swept around the outside to take up the running approaching the second-last.

Dunguib jumped better than on his previous two starts, with a faultless display capped by a spring-heeled leap at the last.

Exceptional

Sky Bet have Fenton's stable star at 5/2 to land the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Fenton added: "I'll have to chat with the owners because we had it in our minds that we'd bypass Leopardstown at Christmas because he is not an over-robust horse and doesn't take a huge amount of racing - we don't want to take one step too many.

"Leopardstown in February (Deloitte Novice Hurdle) could be the next step.

"I'll think we'll stick to the novices this year. There is always next season if he looked the job in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and we can train him for the Champion the following season.

"It depends how well he is each day he turns up, but he looks exceptional at the moment."