HENRY DE BROMHEAD’S Petit Mouchoir was cut from 25/1 to 8/1 across the board for the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle after a dominant win on the final day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.
Gigginstown’s five-year-old eased clear to a seven-length victory in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle, ensuring that the €59,000 top prize will stay in the pocket of owner Michael O’Leary.
Nichols Canyon, last year’s winner, was sent off the 2/5 favourite to continue Willie Mullins’ superb festive run.
But he never really settled in the hands of Ruby Walsh and when Petit Mouchoir (6/1) and Bryan Cooper pushed on before the second last, the rest of the field had no answer.
Ivanovich Gorbatov ran on well in the hands of Davy Russell to take third ahead of Footpad and Jer’s Girl.
Earlier on the day, there was another double for Walsh and Mullins as Battleford (4/9 fav) won the Guinness Maiden Hurdle and Let’s Dance (1/3 fav) caught the eye with a 17-length win in the Grade 3 Mares Hurdle.
The Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase went the way of Our Duke (4/1), trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Robbie Power, who stayed on best in a thrilling finish, beating the 5/2 favourite Coney Island by half a length with Disko (20/1) another half-length back in third.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
