Generous Risk cruises to Leopardstown victory

The Gigginstown-owned six-year-old, a ‘point’ winner and placed in three of his four bumper starts, made virtually all on his hurdling bow, jumped impeccably and stretched away in the closing stages.

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026 - 18:30

John Ryan

Having returned to action at Navan on Saturday, Sam Ewing registered his first success since landing the Grade 1 Savills Chase on Affordale Fury at Christmas when making all on Generous Risk in the opening Golf Padel Range Launching Spring 2026 Maiden Hurdle in Leopardstown.

“He’s not a bad horse,” stated winning trainer Gordon Elliott: “He was hard on himself in his bumpers and we decided to switch him to hurdles. He’s six and we’ll let him rock on over fences next season. Before that, he could be a horse for Fairyhouse or Aintree.”

And Ewing added: “It was very straightforward. He jumped brilliantly and ran them into the ground. He’ll make a fine chaser.” Generous Risk was the first leg of a double for Elliott and Gigginstown, completed when 4/5 favourite Torpille Dagrostis (Josh Williamson) led from the fourth and saw off Alliteration in the 1888 Restaurant Mares Maiden Hurdle.

“She’s been knocking on the door and we’re a long time waiting for it,” said Elliott. “It was her race to lose, although I was a bit worried running her again so soon. She’ll get a trip and will jump a fence.” And he quipped: “It’s nice to get a few winners from not many runners, before next week.”

Philip Dempsey and Donagh Meyler, both among the winners on Monday, struck again when Missus Beeton, successful at Down Royal in January, defied an 8lb. A higher mark in the QuinnBet Mares Handicap Hurdle, beating Onefortheditch readily.

“She’s very small, but she’s a lovely, improving filly,” said Dempsey. “That was an easy watch and she loves coming from off the pace like that.

“We’ll look for something similar. And she’ll be a nice filly for the summer, both over hurdles and fences.”

In the winners enclosure twice on Monday, the Munir/Souede silks were carried to success again when Raffles Dolce Vita (J J Slevin) made every yard of the running to take the first beginners chase by eight lengths from Come Walk With Me – odds-on favourite Caroline Banbou was third and beaten when crashing at the final fence.

The winner is trained by Tom Gibney, who admitted: “It worked out very well – the small field and being left along in front. We decided to drop him in trip and let him rattle. Visually, it looked good.”

Out of luck with odds-on favourite Jet To Monte Carlo, Emmet Mullins triumphed later when Harbour Highway, in the McManus colours, swooped late under Alan O’Sullivan to thwart Lisleigh Lad in the John Thomas McNamara Series Amateur Handicap Chase.

“He’s been frustrating since his bumper days,” acknowledged Mullins. “So it’s nice to get his head in front. He appreciates nicer ground and will continue through the seeping and summer.”

A faller in her only ‘point’ (in Boulta), the Sam Curling-trained Ealu, confidently handled by Derek O’Connor, made an impressive racecourse debut when outpointing favourite Araminta in the mares bumper, stretching away to triumph by five lengths.

“She would probably have won the first day and she’s a lovely mare,” said Curling. “I think she’ll be better on better ground. She’ll go for a black-type bumper now, probably the Grade 2 in Aintree.”

Having raced prominently, but only fourth jumping the last, Joyau De Thaix swooped late under Eoin Staples to deny flattering favourite Dameauscottlestown in the Leopardstown Racecourse Beginners Chase, prompting Nolan to comment: “He jumped well and stayed at it, just like he did in Limerick. He’s a real stayer and wants three miles in soft ground.”

And the Harvey family was on the mark when Gowran Park maiden winner Daydream Nation, making his handicap debut and stepping up to three miles for the first time, bounced back from a disappointing effort in Thurles to land the three-mile QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle at the expense of He’s Home Again.