Heart Wood lands Tramore spoils for Henry De Bromhead 

Gordon Elliott rounded off a remarkable week with doubles at both Tramore and Fairyhouse, bringing his tally for the festive period to 23

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: Heart Wood and Darragh O'Keeffe soar over a fence en route to winning the Grade Three O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey New Year’s Day Chase.  Picture: Healy Racing

Local trainer Henry de Bromhead bagged the Grade Three O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey New Year’s Day Chase for the third time in four years when the Robcour-owned Heart Wood landed the spoils before a huge crowd in Tramore.

Enterprisingly ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe and the second leg of a New Year’s Day double for the Knockeen stable, the 2-1 joint-favourite was up front throughout with Croke Park before asserting on the run to the second last and powering up the hill to beat Ile Atlantique, best of four runners for Willie Mullins, by eight and a half lengths.