Workmanlike Very Wood makes solid start to his chasing career

Cheltenham Festival winner Very Wood made a solid start to his career over fences with a workmanlike success at Galway yesterday.

Noel Meade’s five-year-old was a 33-1 winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in March, but failed to fire on his only subsequent appearance at Punchestown in late April.

A 1-2 favourite for the W.B. Gavin & Co EBF Beginners Chase, Very Wood jumped well in the main in the hands of Bryan Cooper and loomed up ominously along the back straight.