Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Leopardstown 13:50 €100,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1  |
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1 Irish Point EvensF
2 Asterion Forlonge 6/1
3 Ballyadam 18/1
6 ran Distances: 11l, ½l, 2l
Time: 6m 28.70s
Irish Point justifies favouritism by storming clear in the closing stages of the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle 👏
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 28, 2023
Grade 1 glory for @jackkennedy15 and @gelliott_racing 🤝#LRCChristmas pic.twitter.com/A6HBxq36lt
Irish Point demonstrated his prominence in the staying division with a commanding performance at Leopardstown.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, the five-year-old, a Grade One-winning novice at Aintree in the previous spring, commenced this season with a victory over the accomplished mare Magical Zoe.
Despite facing a notable increase in grade against last year's winner Home By The Lee, Asterion Forlonge, and Buddy One, Irish Point asserted his dominance.
As Home By The Lee faltered on the turn for home, Jack Kennedy guided Irish Point, the heavily favored even-money choice, to an 11-length victory.
Wearing the colors of Brian Acheson's Robcour, Irish Point joins Teahupoo as a legitimate contender for the Stayers' Hurdle, with QuinnBet pricing them both as 4-1 joint-favorites for the March race.
“Jack said he would have done more in a piece of work at home,” said Elliott.
“He was very professional, settled and did everything great.
“You are always worried stepping up to three miles. It’s a nice race to win, we’ve a couple for that division now and it’s a good problem to have.
“We’ve a great bunch of horses and Jack said to me there that all I have to do now is to make sure to split them up.
“He could be a horse that we’d keep for Aintree, we’ll enjoy today and see what happens. The horse was very good and I thought it was a great performance.
“I thought he was so relaxed that he ticked all the boxes to stay, but you are always nervous until he does it.
“Jack said he actually thought halfway down the back that he was so relaxed, but he said when he gave him a squeeze he leapt straight back on it.”
Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle
3m , Race Value: €100,000, Grade 1
6 ran
Going: Heavy
1 Irish Point 5 11-10 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy EvF
2 11 Asterion Forlonge 9 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 6/1
3 ½ Ballyadam 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 18/1
4 2 Beacon Edge 9 11-10 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 40/1
5 6½ Home By The Lee 8 11-10 Joseph O'Brien J J Slevin 9/4
PU Buddy One 6 11-10 Paul John Gilligan Jack G Gilligan 10/1
