O’Connor second in Mistletoe Stakes

Cian O’Connor maintained his early momentum at Olympia in London yesterday, placing second in the Mistletoe Stakes.

Again, it was Declan McEvoy’s Umberto who was his foil, the pairing finishing two seconds adrift of Britain’s Ellen Whitaker on Royal Rose in the speed and handiness class. On Thursday, O’Connor won the Welcome Stakes with the nine-year-old gelding.

Billy Twomey also put down a marker for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier and Monday’s grand prix, riding Tinka’s Serenade to fourth place in the day’s feature 1.55m Christmas Cracker jump-off with a double clear.