Croke Park narrowly denied his better-fancied stablemate Better Days Ahead in a thrilling finish to the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Just four runners went to post for the Grade One contest, with Paul Gilligan’s stable star Buddy One the only opposition to three runners for Gordon Elliott.
Better Days Ahead was the 10-11 favourite off the back of an impressive chasing debut success at Navan last month, with Stellar Story next in at 11-4 and and Croke Park third best according to the market at 7-2, despite winning the Grade One Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse last time out.
In a race run in thick fog, Croke Park and Better Days Ahead emerged clear of the other two and while Better Days Ahead was finishing the stronger, his stable companion clung on by a head under Sam Ewing.
Buddy One was 19 lengths behind in third, with Stellar Story a tailed-off last of four.
Croke Park (7-2) just hangs on from stablemate Better Days Ahead in a head-bobbing finish to the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase at Leopardstown for Sam Ewing and Gordon Elliott. pic.twitter.com/b3MyPNRhMQ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 26, 2024
“Obviously he came from the point-to-point field. He’s a very tough horse, honest and a great jumper. We’re absolutely delighted with the performance today,” Elliott said of the winner, who is now three from three over fences.
“I couldn’t see much of the race, but it’s great to win it. To be honest he (Croke Park) disappointed me so much as a hurdler last year, we had such expectations for him but he was probably so big and weak.
“He’s come back there now and has two Grade Ones won this season so I’m delighted for connections.”
Elliott added: “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. He was well up after the line.
“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.”
Hello Neighbour made a winning start to his jumping career in the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle.
Two from two on the Flat after scoring at Navan and Roscommon, Gavin Cromwell’s three-year-old was the 9-4 favourite to make a successful switch to obstacles and looked to travel well for much of the Grade Two contest in the hands of Keith Donoghue.
As the leaders emerged from the gathering fog on the run-in, Hello Neighbour held a narrow advantage over Lady Vega Allen and while the latter was finishing the stronger, Cromwell’s runner clung on in a thriller by a short head.
Hello Neighbour (9-4F) justifies favouritism in the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle at a foggy Leopardstown despite doing plenty wrong on his first start over timber. pic.twitter.com/vWKmKeiQRK
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 26, 2024
Cromwell said: “That was great. It was a brave call to come here on his first start (over hurdles) and thankfully he hung on.
“He was keen in snatches in the race and because of that he didn’t jump as well as he can do.
“I think when he learns to settle better in races he’ll be better again. It’s a good result.”
Kopek Des Bordes bagged the opening TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle in a clear-cut success for Willie and Patrick Mullins.
An impressive winner of a valuable sales bumper at Fairyhouse in the spring, Kopek Des Bordes (4-6 favourite) was making his seasonal reappearance and hurdling debut and tracked the pacesetting Whinney Hill from flag-fall.
The market leader was not always convincing in the jumping department, but was travelling best rounding the home turn and found plenty after safely negotiating the final flight to score by two and three-quarter lengths from his staying-on stablemate Kawaboomga.
The winning trainer 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.
Our first winner of the day 👏
Kopek Des Bordes finishes strong to take the @triequestrian_1 Maiden Hurdle under Patrick Mullins 🤩 @WillieMullinsNHpic.twitter.com/pvZoFlpg77
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 26, 2024
“He didn’t jump properly, he’s a way better jumper than that. I’m hoping there is a lot of improvement in his jumping.
“He looks a tip-top animal. 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 One at the Dublin Racing Festival. He looks to have that type of an engine.”
The champion trainer looked to have every chance of completing a quickfire double in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle, but even-money favourite Redemption Day could finish only fourth as Henry de Bromhead’s Workahead dominated proceedings under Mike O’Connor.
The 13-2 shot finished third behind last season’s Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux on his hurdling bow at Navan three weeks ago and confirmed that promise with a seven-length verdict.
Dominant 🙌
Workahead takes control of the @ThorntonsRec Maiden Hurdle to give @HenrydeBromhead and jockey Mike O’Connor the win💨pic.twitter.com/yP1wYazp9P
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 26, 2024
“That was great, a nice little Christmas present,” said O’Connor.
“We were hoping that he’d improve off the last day and he did, he put his best foot forward today.”
