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Classy bumper winner looks to have bright future

Commander Of Fleet justified his prohibitive odds in comfortable style to make a winning debut over the smaller obstacles in the Kildare Now Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

Winner of the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival in April, the 1-5 shot took to hurdles like an old hand.

Davy Russell was happy to sit close to the pace set by Kalum River, and the pair had the race between them throughout the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Commander Of Fleet was going the better of the two turning for home and the Gordon Elliott-trained four-year-old forged clear in the closing stages to beat Kalum River by six lengths.

Castle Oliver was 13 lengths away in third place.