Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore© Photo Healy Racing
Notebook put in an exhibition of jumping to win the Grade 2 Tote Fortria Chase at Navan on seasonal debut.
The race boiled down to a match between the 8/15 favourite and Samcro (9/4) from five out in this two-mile contest with a value of €35,000.
The pair drew clear racing to the next and the crowd were in for a treat as the pair were locked together jumping the third last in the straight.
Rachael Blackmore was the first to get animated on Notebook with Jack Kennedy still motionless on Samcro heading to the second last.
A lovely jump from Notebook saw him edge ahead of Samcro and he responded generously to draw clear at the final fence. He jumped that big and bold and sailed in by 10 lengths.
Henry de Bromhead said: “I'm delighted with that, he was really good and jumped great. He was brilliant.
“It was an ideal race for him, he loves jumping and is such a class jumper, that's his forte.
“I thought we were struggling between the third last and second last but he winged the second last and was away again.”
When asked if he could step up in trip he added:- “I think we have to try it. He's in the John Durkan so we could have a look at that.
“He won really well at Naas first time last year and then it was just Chacun Pour Soi that was the problem after that.
“He's a very good horse in his own right and I think everyone is keen to try him over further.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
