Jack Kennedy secured his first Grade 1 winner - and also notched the 100th success of his fledgling career - when Outlander claimed the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old, attached to the winning stable of Gordon Elliott, was already destined for the top before this notable victory, the biggest of his short spell in the saddle to date.

He was only aboard Outlander because Bryan Cooper, retained rider for owners Gigginstown House Stud, instead chose to partner Valseur Lido, trained by Henry de Bromhead.

To be fair to Cooper, he looked to have chosen correctly for most of the three-mile contest.

Having travelled sweetly throughout, Valseur Lido touched down after the last narrowly in front of Outlander and Don Poli, another Gigginstown representative, but halfway up the run-in Cooper knew he was in trouble.

Outlander (11/1) stayed on stoutly to hold off stablemate Don Poli and the favourite Djakadam by two and a quarter lengths and a head respectively.

Valseur Lido faded into fourth, with Jonjo O'Neill's two runners, Taquin Du Seuil and More Of That, upsides in fifth and sixth.

Kennedy said: "He ran a great race the last day in the John Durkan, a length and a quarter behind Djakadam, and I was fairly lucky Bryan picked Valseur Lido so I was lucky to get on Outlander.

"He travelled and jumped brilliantly. He didn't miss a beat the whole way. He might have got in a bit deep to the last with a circuit to go but, other than that, he never missed one.

"I thought going to the last maybe I was there a bit soon - it was a lonely old run-in - but he dug deep and kept going. I was afraid something would come and do me but he kept going.

"All the family are here and it was great riding my 100th winner and my first Grade One."

Elliott was especially proud of his protege.

He said: "He's a big part of the team at home and he's my man, so I'm trying to bring him along. I'm delighted for him."

The Co Meath handler had intended to send Outlander for the King George VI Chase at Kempton but made a late switch when Thistlecrack, the eventual winner, was announced as a runner.

The eight-year-old was also under consideration for a much smaller race at Tramore on Sunday, but the decision to go for the Lexus proved inspired as he produced a career-best effort on what was his fifth start of the season since leaving Willie Mullins.

Elliott went on: "It was touch and go whether he ran here or went to Tramore, but with the ground drying out we decided to come here.

"He was only beaten about a length by Djakadam at Punchestown the last day, and one jump made the difference between winning and losing.

"I suppose the obvious race is to come back here for the Gold Cup (in February).

"I'm delighted with Don Poli, and I'd say the Grand National is the plan with him."

VROUM VROUM VICTORY

Willie Mullins, former trainer of Outlander and Don Poli, had four winners on the card. They were headed by Vroum Vroum Mag, who held off the late thrust of stablemate Clondaw Warrior to win the three-mile Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle.

The 8/15 favourite cruised through the race and looked set to win comfortably, but Ruby Walsh had to get serious in the last 100 yards as Clondaw Warrior, part-owned by the jockey's wife and ridden by his sister, Katie, came with a rare rattle.

Vroum Vroum Mag eventually seized the day by a length and a quarter, with Snow Falcon another two and a half lengths back in third.

But for the final-flight fall of Shaneshill, who had made the running but had been headed by the winner, it could have been a clean sweep for white-hot trainer Willie Mullins.

Mullins said: "She is some mare. She did something today that I've never seen her do before, she pulled too hard. She always falls asleep in her races and that's why I thought we'd have no problems going out to three miles with her so we'll have to see now where we go.

"She can go over any trip, she showed lots of pace. We came out of Kempton to come here but I'm just surprised that she took such a hold early on as that wouldn't be good if we were going to go down the Stayers' Hurdle route but we'll have to see.

"She works with our Champion Hurdle horses, we know she stays three miles now, and she can go over hurdles and jump fences. She's the super sub in the Ricci team, and that's where she fits in. She's an extraordinary mare.

"Clondaw Warrior ran a fantastic race, and Shaneshill was going well too. I think Patrick and himself just got their wires crossed going to the hurdle, Patrick thought he'd put in a quick one and he actually caught the top of it. He looked to gallop away, though, and both he and Patrick look OK, thankfully."

Walsh said: "I denied the wife there, and my sister! Vroum Vroum Mag was very good. I suppose looking at it if you were giving Clondaw a chance, we'd have always thought Vroum Vroum was a good bit better than him.

"She ran out of my hands a little bit but she jumped super and she just pulled up (in front) when Patrick's horse fell. The fact that she ran out of my hands today and still won over three miles is testament to how good she is.

"If you look at her going to the last she was only doing a half-speed and I just didn't want to be left in front for too long because as soon as you commit her, she pulls up. After Patrick fell, she got idle and I didn't know what was coming but I could tell by Dessie Scahill's commentary there was something coming at me!

"She's just very idle in front, she started to pull herself up but I think when Katie got close she started to pull out again. She's won a Grade 1 over two miles, two-five and now over three so it's great to have a mare like her."

BLEU IS THE COLOUR

Bleu Et Rouge produced a tremendous turn of foot to give Willie Mullins yet another winner in the Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase.

A Grade 1 winner over hurdles last season, the J.P. McManus-owned five-year-old was heavily backed and went off the 6/4 favourite.

Several sloppy leaps left him adrift of the front five turning into the straight and Barry Geraghty briefly appeared to have accepted his fate.

However, his mount really picked up the bit and closed the gap in no time. He still had plenty to do at the last as Gangster, formerly trained by Mullins and now with Henry de Bromhead, jumped to the front.

Bleu Et Rouge quickened smartly, though, and won going away by three-quarters of a length, with Don't Touch It third.

"He jumps well at home but he didn't bring that to the track," said Mullins. "I think he got a fright at the first and lost his confidence. He needs a bit more schooling. He must have a huge engine to win and I thought he had no chance after the second-last.I think two miles is fine for him but he'll get more time to jump over a longer trip."

The Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh and Rich Ricci triumvirate continued its dominance of the Christmas period when Montalbano justified odds-on favouritism in the At The Races Maiden Hurdle.

Useful on the level, the 8/11 favourite moved through the race smoothly for Walsh but was made to work quite hard to land the odds.

Black Key and Youcannotbeserious set the target, but Montalbano pulled clear of the latter to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

Walsh said: "He was quite keen last week at home and I wanted to get him settled. He jumped super, travelled well and ultimately won well."

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