DELOITTE NOVICE HURDLE

(GRADE 1)

A NEAR interminable wait of over two months finally came to an end as Samcro’s hugely anticipated third appearance over hurdles resulted in another stunning display from the still unbeaten six-year-old.

A horse with a huge reputation that has grown with every run, Samcro hadn’t raced since bolting up in a Grade 2 at Navan in late November. That absence from the track only seemed to add to the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding’s mystique and this race, which was by far the best and most competitive he has contested, copper-fastened his status as novice of stellar potential.

Pitted against Samcro were a host of horses with legitimate aspirations of making their mark at the top level but Gordon Elliott’s charge was simply different class. The 4/6 favourite was dropping back from two and a half miles to two miles but this didn’t seem to make the slightest difference to the strapping son of Germany.

LEADERS

He was nicely positioned in behind the leaders by Jack Kennedy and proceded to turn in his most polished and accurate round of jumping to date. Samcro was still full of running coming away from the second last when each and every one of his rivals had come under strong pressure.

As the leaders turned for home Samcro sauntered to the front and with his trademark ease he opened up an ever-increasing lead on the run to the final flight. Another clean jump there put the seal on a stunning performance and Samcro was never subjected to vigorous pressure to come home with five and a half lengths to spare.

Duc Des Genievres ran a splendid race to storm home for second, doing best of the Willie Mullins quartet, with Paloma Blue securing third.

“It’s just great to get a winner, we’ve been hitting the crossbar a few times this weekend,” said Elliott. “He was very good there, he got a lovely ride from Jack and that performance has opened up a lot of doors for him. Really he was bought as a three-mile chaser – and that’s what he is – but he’s got a lot of class too.

“Coming here today I would have said that the Ballymore was where he would go at Cheltenham but the way he has won there has opened the door for the Supreme Novices’. We’re just going to have to sit down over the coming weeks and have a chat about where he goes but I’m just very lucky to have a horse like him.”