SAM JUST CHAMPION
Elliott eyes first win as star stays over Hurdles
GORDON ELLIOTT confirmed yesterday Samcro will be aimed at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
The news ended speculation about whether the six-year-old, a dual Grade 1 winner whose unbeaten record ended when he fell in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, would go chasing or stay over hurdles, with a tilt at the Champion his ultimate target.
After discussions between Michael and Eddie O‘leary of Gigginstown House Stud, Elliott said: “I’ve never had a Champion Hurdle horse before and Gigginstown have yet to win it. So we thought it would be worth giving Samcro a shot at it.”
Samcro, whose CV comprises a point-to-point win, three bumper successes and four wins from five starts over hurdles, will make his eagerly-awaited seasonal debut in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle, over two miles, at Down Royal on Friday, first stage of a two-day meeting.
Trainer Peter Fahey intends running Peregrine Run in Saturday’s Grade 2 Mycarneedsa. com Chase in Down Royal, if the ground stays good, following his smooth success in yesterday’s MW Hickey Memorial Chase, listed feature of Wexford’s Bank Holiday action.
Ridden by Roger Loughran, the 5/4 favourite came from last to first to beat market rival Dinaria Des Obeaux easily by eight lengths
Also in Wexford, Mister Blue Sky, a four-time winner for Sylvester Kirk in England, made an impressive hurdling bow for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins, who completed an across-the-card double with Maze Runner in the John Mulholland Bookmaker Handicap in Galway.
Maze Runner was the second leg of a double for Colin Keane, successful earlier on his father Gerry’s Laughifuwant.
And a double on Tuamhain and Carol’s Return pushed Shane Crosse to the 27-winner mark, five ahead of Killian Leonard in the Apprentice Championship.