Gordon Elliott: 'Irish Point could be a horse that we keep for Aintree'

Jack Kennedy celebrates with Rob Acheson after winning with Irish Point.

Gordon Elliott recorded his third Grade One of the meeting when Irish Point took another step forward in his career by taking the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle.

Owned by Robcour and ridden by Jack Kennedy, the five-year-old grey travelled easily in midfield as market rival Home By The Lee set the pace, somewhat on sufferance.

That rival, game as ever, gave everything in defeat but the progressive Irish Point travelled up to take the lead early in the straight and without having to be asked for absolutely everything, he pulled clear of Asterion Forlonge and Ballyadam.

“Jack said he would have done more in a piece of work at home,” said Elliott. “He was very professional, settled well, and did everything well. You are always worried when stepping up to three miles, but It's a nice race to win.

“We have a couple for that division now. It’s a good problem to have, but he could be a horse that we could keep for Aintree.” When trained in France, Irish Point won a Grade One bumper beating none other than Il Est Francais, who extended his perfect record over fences to three when winning the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Tuesday in Kempton.

Irish Point is now vying for favouritism for the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, while Il Est Francais is no bigger than 10-1 for the Brown Advisory Chase, and similar odds for the Turners’ Novice Chase.

Elliott doubled up on the card when Patter Merchant justified odds-on favouritism in the Midland Legal Solicitors Bumper. The four-year-old Walk In The Park gelding travelled better than his chief market rival, Sounds Victorius, but had to be asked a serious question to repel that challenge.

Gaoth Chuil ran out a game winner of the Pertemps Qualifier for Ted Walsh, jockey Shane O’Callaghan and owner Michael Ryan. Placed in the novice handicap hurdle here in 2022, she returned in great form, having finished runner-up in both previous outings this season. Noted travelling sweetly deep into the race, she was asked a question by the rallying Farouk D’alene and the staying-on Nine Graces but the five-year-old found plenty to keep them both at bay.

Music Of Tara, third in the 2022 running of the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle, went a couple of places better this time. It didn’t always look likely but Henry de Bromhead’s mare, given a strong ride by Rachael Blackmore, called on all of her reserves to collar Heliko Conti at the last and then run on to put two lengths between them at the line.