GIGGINSTOWN House Stud won the Grade 2 Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle for the fourth consecutive year as Favori De Champdou took the feature race for Gordon Elliott and Jordan Gainford.

Owner Michael O’Leary had previously seen his colours carried to success by Eric Bloodaxe (2021), Farouk D’Alene (2020) and Fury Road (2019), respectively. Favori De Champdou, sent off 5/2 second favourite, had been off the track for 626 days after beating Run For Oscar in his bumper but has been making up for lost time in winning his previous two starts.

Elliott’s assistant Ian ‘Busty’ Amond reported: “He did it well and Jordan said he was happy the whole way. He said it was the same as the lad yesterday (Gerri Colombe) as he didn’t do much when he got to the front. He jumped very good, handled the ground and he is going the right way now.”

Jordan Gainford, who rode the previous day’s Grade 1 winner Gerri Colombe owned by Robcour, added: “The race went to plan and he is a straightforward type of fella. They brought me along at a nice gallop, he picked up and pricked his two ears at the last but got away from it well. He stays very well and going forward he is a lovely horse for the future.”

Elliott and Gainford completed a double in the next race, with the M J Hanrahan-owned Shecouldbeanything in the Goggin Buckley Mares Maiden Hurdle. The 6/4f was sent on at the third last flight before skipping clear to maintain her unbeaten record.

Assistant trainer Amond said: “Jordan said she was a bit keen, but for one so keen she stayed at it well. She almost threw it away by stumbling at the back of the second-last, having winged it, but stayed at it well.

“She obviously likes it here on this ground. Looking at her there, you could even drop her back in trip if you had to. She has plenty of options and is one to look forward to.”

Drumbear beats on

TRAINER John McConnell, who won the final race at Limerick on Monday, resumed where he left off, when taking the opening Cargill Neomilk Calf Milk Replacer Rated Novice Chase with Drumbear. The chasing debutant, sent off at 5/1, made all the running under Johnny Barry and kept on to repel the challenge of Limerick Lace.

Barry said of the Colm Herron and James Porter-owned horse: “John (McConnell) was very sweet on him and he told me had good enough form last year. He said he jumps very well but wasn’t sure how well he’d handle this heavy ground. He handled it very well, jumped very well and was good and tough. I spoke to Ben Harvey last night and he said not to fight him and leave him at it. He said when you start to fight him, he gets too racy and the hood helped him today also.

“I was worried when Denis (O’Regan on Limerick Lace) came to me at the second-last but in fairness to my lad he jumped that fence well, stuck his head out and galloped the whole way to the line.”

Little Mixup caused a 50/1 upset in the Roches Feeds Handicap Hurdle for trainer Denis Hogan. Well beaten on two previous runs this season, the winner had been placed on a few occasions last term. Pushed along two out, the Shirocco gelding kept on nicely under Donagh Meyler.

Meyler said: “He was very professional in doing things, handled the ground well and jumped well, so it makes my job a lot easier when those things are in your favour.”

Optimistic for the future in Fermanagh

DAVID Christie made the trip South worthwhile, when Ultimate Optimist justified favouritism (7/4) in the Earl Of Harrington Memorial Maiden Hunters Chase. The six-year-old had this race in safekeeping from two out, staying on strongly to win for the fourth time.

Christie said: “We really liked him. He was very weak when we got him but we knew that and Rob James (previous rider) said to me he could be a nice horse but has taken a lot of time to find himself. Just in the last four or five weeks he has started to get strong.

“He has won two point-to-points for me, now he has won his hunters chase and he is an out-and-out stayer with a bit of class. We gave him a bit of work last Monday with Vaucelet and there wasn’t too much difference between the two but we were concerned as we hadn’t run him on this ground before.

“I think he will be a top horse and he is also a special horse to me too as the first day he won for me, was the day my father died. He would always be different from the rest for me.

“It is nice after winning with Vaucelet yesterday to sit back and give the whole thing consideration. This horse is only a six-year-old, so we have to try and make him last if we can, I don’t want to make any wrong moves with him (regarding running at Cheltenham this year) but I do regard him as top class.”

Lengths ahead

Emily Cody partnered her second winner under rules when making all aboard Optimal Mix (3/1) to claim the Grant Thornton Ladies Handicap Hurdle for trainer Eoin Doyle. Clear from two out, the six-year-old mare came home 15 lengths ahead of her nearest pursuer, Whiskey Lullaby.

Doyle said: “She is keeping the yard going for the winter and is a great mare. She was back over hurdles today and is probably a stronger, better mare this year. Jerry (Hughes) owns her and would like to breed from her so we might look for a bit of blacktype - she is worth a chance at it as she is one of the most consistent mares in training.

“Emily’s uncle Ray (Cody, trainer) worked with me for years so this is great. We are all local and it is great to get a winner at the Christmas festival.”

A gift from Mullins’ Hill

WILLIE Mullins, who won six of the seven races at Leopardstown on the day, also got on the scoresheet at Limerick, with Largy Hill (11/8jf) taking the concluding Whitebox Property Group INH Flat Race. On an afternoon when it paid to race up with the pace, the winner led over five furlongs out.

Birthday girl and winning rider Jody Townend said: “He was green in Cork and also had excuses afterwards but he made up for it today. He is a big galloper and I’d say he will want further in time. He is all stamina so winning a bumper is a bonus with him. “I got my birthday winner also!”