DANOLI, who made a remarkable recovery to action last season after suffering a fractured fetlock joint at Aintree in April last year made a winning debut over fences before a large crowd at Clonmel yesterday.

Partnered by Philip Fenton, deputising for the injured Tommy Treacy, Danoli was always travelling well and edged ahead of market rival, Coasharon, after jumping the third last before safely negotiating the final two obstacles to win by six lengths.

The day started badly for Danoli followers when regular partner, Tommy Treacy, was unseated from Foley's Oxford Lunch at the flight before the stands with a circuit to race in the opener.

Victory went to Dublin Treasure trained by Mickey Flynn and ridden by Francis Woods, but Oxford Lunch tragically broke a leg and Treacy was taken to hospital with a suspected fractured right collarbone.

Foley sought out seven times champion, Charlie Swan to ride his dual Martell Aintree Hurdle winner and 1994 Cheltenham Sun Alliance hero, but Swan elected to stay loyal to Consharon: "I didn't think it would be fair to the owners as I told them to run their horse here," commented Swan.

After the eight-year-old gelding was greeted to a rapturous reception by the Clonmel faithful, Foley said: "I was very close to pulling him out, but only for the public I decided to let him take his chance. Philip gave him a magnificent ride and I was very happy with the performance. He will go for a two mile one furlong chase at Naas later this month and the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse is on my mind after that. It's very unlikely he will go back hurdling now.

On Gold Cup aspirations, the Bagenalstown handler said: "It's a long way from a beginners chase at Clonmel to the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and I will take every race as it comes."