Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase (Grade 1)

LEOPARDSTOWN was unlucky with the weather for its St Stephen’s Day fixture, as fog enveloped the course and put somewhat of a dampener on proceedings as a fine crowd was only able to see snatches of most of the seven races on the card.

Indeed, at one stage it looked as if the meeting would have to be cut short due to deteriorating visibility and there was a 45-minute delay to the start of the fourth race before it was deemed that the action could continue.

Just four runners, all bar one trained by Gordon Elliott, went to post for the feature Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase and Croke Park (7/2) narrowly denied his better-fancied stablemate Better Days Ahead to claim his second Grade 1 victory of the campaign.

The Drinmore winner, partnered by Sam Ewing in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, was towards the head of affairs throughout and was holding market leader Better Days Ahead on the run to the last before a strong finish from the latter saw Croke Park just manage to cling on by a head.

“He’s a very tough horse, honest and a great jumper,” said Elliott.

“I couldn’t see much of the race, but it’s great to win it. To be honest, he disappointed me so much as a hurdler last year, we had such expectations for him, but he was probably so big and weak.

Busy schedule

“He’s been busy enough and probably doesn’t need to run again before Cheltenham. I don’t think he wants real winter heavy ground.

“He maybe didn’t jump as well as he did the last day. Sam said he slipped going into the first.

“The second horse didn’t lose much in defeat either, probably more of a test will suit him.

“Even when he won the Martin Pipe in Cheltenham, he looked like a real stayer. As he’s named, there will be better days ahead.”

“THAT was great. It was a brave call to come here on his first jumps start and thankfully he hung on,” said winning trainer Gavin Cromwell in the aftermath of the Grade 2 O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle, which went to jumping debutant Hello Neighbour (9/4 favourite).

Keith Donoghue was handy throughout on Partick Sheanon’s Harzand gelding (two from two on the flat) and his mount just held the late thrust of Lady Vega Allen by a short head. This performance saw him cut to 5/1 favourite (from 11/1) with Sky Bet for the Triumph Hurdle.

“He was keen in snatches in the race and, because of that, he didn’t jump as well as he can do,” reflected Cromwell.

“I think when he learns to settle better in races, he’ll be better again. He’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival.”

Classy Kopek

Willie and Patrick Mullins bookended the card with a double and Kopek Des Bordes, an impressive winner of a valuable sales bumper at Fairyhouse in the spring, landed odds of 4/6 in the TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle.

Owned by Monabeg Investments Limited, the No Risk At All gelding raced in second before taking over at the last to beat stablemate Kawaboomga by two and three-quarter lengths.

Trainer Mullins, who elected to stay on home soil instead of travelling to Kempton to see Lossiemouth take on Constitution Hill said: “It was a very good performance considering he got unsighted at the first and Patrick said it just unnerved him for the rest of the race.

“He didn’t jump properly, he’s a way better jumper than that. He looks a tip-top animal and we’ve always thought a fair bit of him.

“He’d want to brush up his jumping, but he’d look like one that could maybe come back here for a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival. He looks to have that type of an engine.”

Glory for Green

Green Splendour (11/4), owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, completed the Mullins’ brace in the Race And Stay INH Flat Race.

The Mount Nelson gelding wore down front-runner Khmer inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter.

“He looks a good staying type and I think he’ll improve. I’d imagine you’d have to look at coming back here for the DRF,” said the winning handler.

ON the scoresheet at the other two meetings of the day in Ireland, Henry de Bromhead struck at Leopardstown too when Workahead (13/2) made all in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle.

This looked a hot contest beforehand, but Barry Maloney’s son of Workforce, third on hurdling debut at Navan, had all his rivals on the stretch turning for home and came home seven lengths ahead of William Munny.

“That was great, a nice little Christmas present,” said winning rider Mike O’Connor.

“We were hoping that he’d improve off the last day and he did, he put his best foot forward.”

In a remarkable bunch finish more reminiscent of a sprint handicap on the level, An Peann Dearg (10/1) led close home to land the Racing Post Handicap Chase for Paul Nolan and Sean O’Keeffe, denying the previous year’s winner The Folkes Tiara by a short head.

Nolan surprise

The Well Chosen gelding carries the colours of Anne Coffey, Susan Spence and Sonja Buckley. Nolan, also amongst the winners at Limerick, said: “I honestly didn’t give him that much of a chance, I was hoping he’d run respectably. Thankfully, he was on the right side of the nod.”

Philip Fenton and 7Ib conditional Niall Moore combined to land the Dornan Careers Novice Handicap Hurdle, courtesy of the Thomas Coleman-owned Shraheen (5/1).

Close up throughout, the winner led two out and stayed on well for a two-length verdict over Cloonainra.

“He’s a big horse and is improving,” said Fenton. “We might have a go at another festival with him.”