Elliott ace’s battling win
BATTLEOVERDOYEN turned in a battling performance to maintain his unbeaten record by landing the Grade One Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle yesterday.
The Gordon Elliotttrained winner was marginally preferred at 2-1 favourite to Willie Mullins’ Tornado Flyer, who was third in the Champion Bumper at last season’s Cheltenham Festival before making a winning hurdling debut at the same track.
But Tornado Flyer was never travelling and Ruby Walsh eventually gave up the ghost and pulled him up in the back straight.
Battleoverdoyen, on the other hand, travelled strongly under Jack Kennedy although he had to show all his fighting qualities two from home where he was one of five runners in with a chance.
However, a good jump at that penultimate obstacle took him into the lead and although he was not that fluent at the last he stayed on for a welldeserved victory.
Sams Profile was second for Mouse Morris, with Mullins’ apparent third string Getareason third.
Elliott said: “He’s a nice horse and a big chaser in the making.
“Jack said he’s only learning, and when he got to the front he didn’t know what to do.
“He jumped his hurdles great apart from getting underneath the last.
“I don’t see why he couldn’t go to Cheltenham this year.
“It will be hurdling this year, and chasing straightaway next year.
Battleoverdoyen is a general 6-1 secondfavourite for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Nicky Henderson’s Champ is the marginal market leader for the race at 5-1.