BOB Olinger’s second chase outing gave rise to much debate online and in the review podcasts in the early part of the week.

Reunited with Rachael Blackmore, he was more assured than at Gowran but it still appeared he had to have his mind made up for him on occasions.

From the reception, the crowd in attendance, and the subsequent debate, there is no doubt he is another to capture the imagination in the search for a true star chaser.

His fencing technique may make little difference, it might not stop him winning a novice at Cheltenham if the brilliance that saw his sweep past Bravemansgame in the Ballymore last year is reproduced.

Last year Envoi Allen was applauded by all and sundry for his jumping but it all went kaput at the Festival. You don’t have to have Best Mate’s jumping prowess to get to the top over fences.

Top chasers come in all shapes as we were reminded this week after an unfortuante accident ended the 2013 Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth’s life this week. You can have your Best Mates and War Of Attritions alongside that tough little horse on your roll of honour.

But it does help though, and especially at a track that tests jumping as Cheltenham does. And for a horse who has limited race experience, should Henry de Bromhead decide not to go to Leopardstown.

On the Road to Cheltenham on Racing TV, Ruby Walsh called him still “an absolute aeroplane of a racehorse” but still had doubts. Watching the race there, up close fence by fence – the question was, is he a natural? The conclusion, with Walsh pointing out he never makes ground in the air and might have to make up ground on a better jumper over the course of a race, was that there is enough to be wary of. And there were three fences in the final mile left out. And he is just a very short price.

In his defence, he is possibly still inexperienced – he only had three runs over hurdles so came to the top very quickly. He has a laid-back attitude for the Festival. His best from is also left-handed and he is in the best hands to educate him further.

You don’t have to look far to see good hurdlers who just did not take to fences. Darver Star, third in the 2020 Champion Hurdle and who runs tomorrow at Lingfield, looks more happy back over hurdles.

Big Buck’s and Iris’s Gift – both quality Stayers’ Hurdle winners – just couldn’t hack chasing.

Indeed it’s strange to look back at previous Ballymore winners, the high expectations held for them, and the expectation that they would automatically become top chasers.

Some of very high-class winners never progressed in their subsequent exploits over fences.

Mikael d’Haguenet was among the better winners but couldn’t win over fences the following season, falling twice in the Drinmore and RSA and he ended up back over hurdles.

Peddlers Cross did win novice chases but flopped over fences at the Festival in the Jewson in his novice season. City Island proved a big disappointment over fences and went back hurdling.

Barton won at the top level at Aintree but was never as good over fences.

With doubts over the going at the Dublin Racing Festival, it must be likely he will go straight to Cheltenham, so it’s very much do you chance it all on his obvious ability?

IT never ceases to amaze the paths that are weaved by following a racehorse, or the links they throw up across two countries. Last weekend’s 66/1 Wetherby winner Ballyrath has a colourful background that came to light this week.

Highlighted in the Racing Post report on Sunday, his owner is 79-year-old Colin Moore and his wife Teresa was on hand to lead up the gelding. Moore actually rode the 12-year-old when the two veterans teamed up in last August’s Newmarket Town Plate.

Ballyrath’s early years involved a bit of travel as he was bred by Tim Duggan at Ballymorris Stable in Cork and journeyed up to the north of the country via Martin Cullinane who bought the son of Flemensfirth as a foal, before he passed through Ian Ferguson and Wilson Dennison’s academy from the Derby Sale and on as a point-to-pointer, before going to Britain to race for Nigel Twiston Davies for whom he won a handicap chase.

A spell back pointing in Britain brought four wins with Heidi Brookshaw’s name on the trainer’s licence.

The experience at flat racing’s headquarters with his current owner did him no harm and reignited the 12-year-old’s enthusiasm as, trained by Gary Hamner, he defied a 960-day absence to come home at 66/1 under Tabitha Worsley in the three-mile contest.

Connections

Moore said he had his first ride in 1959 and hope to take to the saddle at 80 for this year’s Town Plate and connections were in touch with his Cork breeder this week to carry on the link. Ballyrath is out of the mare Rosie Wee with winning siblings Knock Down and Buachaill Alainn and is grandam to last season’s five-time winner Dreal Deal. There might be more pages in the story yet.