Leopardstown review and free video replays | Lazare De Star impresses

Rising Star at Leopardstown

It's been a Christmas to remember for Gordon Elliott and his team and they have another nice prospect on their hands in Lazare De Star who readily landed the odds in the Savills Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles.

The 6/4 favourite was settled in behind the front-running Jet To Monte Carlo and held his position until easing to the front in the home straight under Jack Kennedy, quickly opening up a lead of around four lengths approaching the last.

That advantage was maintained to the line as he finished four and a quarter clear of Le Moulin Rouge who, in turn, was almost three lengths clear of Cluain Chormaic.

Lazare De Star, who finished second to the Willie Mullins trained Saint Baco on his Rules debut, was cut to 16/1 from 25/1 Tuners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival by Paddy Power.

Kennedy told Racing TV: "Very pleased. Jumped brilliant, jumped nearly too well, I was landing on the back of Jet To Monte Carlo and was having to take him back and probably lit him up a small bit.

"He was very professional today. He was a bit green the last day but learned loads from it and done it well today. He bumped into a very nice horse but we thought he'd come forward a lot from that and he has. I was impressed with how he quickened up the straight there and galloped to the line."

Elliott and Kennedy later combined to win the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle with Teahupoo.

Simply Divin

Koktail Divin (11/4), trained by Henry De Bromhead, put his rivals to the sword in the Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners Chase, a race that has been won by Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File in recent years.

Jumping out at the head of affairs, Koktail Divin was stalked by 2/1 favourite Kiss Will - three or four lengths back - approaching the second last and jumped that fence aggressively whereas Kiss Will made a momentum stopping error that put paid to his chances.

Darragh O'Keeffe kept Koktail Divin up to his work and the five-year-old responded willingly, scoring by 21 lengths.

Kiss Will was challenged for minor honours at the last but held on for second from Shuffle The Deck.

"He was unreal," said O'Keeffe.

"He's always been very good. Today, coming back in trip on a bit of nicer ground after probably getting a bit outstayed the last day at Punchestown, we said we'd let him go on and use his stride and jumping and he was foot perfect all the way.

"Everytime I got a good jump at Punchestown, because it was over that trip and the ground, I was always taking him back whereas today when I got a good jump I could keep it and great he's got the job done; still a young horse and hopefully he stays improving.

"I wouldn't rule out trying three miles again on better ground but everything seemed perfect for him today."

Silver takes gold

Duke Silver (25/1) was good value for more than the winning margin of three parts of a length in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.

Joseph O'Brien's charge had eased to the front and had the race, a qualifier for the final at the Cheltenham Festival, in safe-keeping to the extent that jockey Hugh Horgan was able to ease down in the closing stages, allowing 7/2 favourite Yeah Man to close right up.

There was a further four lengths back to Small Town Hero in third with Intent Approach half a length away in fourth.

"Absolutely buzzing, can't get over it, delighted I am," Horgan beamed having ridden his first jumps winner.

"I got a lovely spin off him. Very grateful to Joseph and Sarah [O'Brien, owner] for the opportunity and I hope Richie [Deegan] at home is feeling a bit better, he got knocked out the other day.

"Absolutely thrilled. I'm absolutely over the moon to be able to get chances like this and thank God I'm well enough to be able to take them. Got a lovely spin off this horse and thank God he was able to put his head down and finish.

"The atmosphere and everything is just brilliant, couldn't be better."

Another bumper star for Townend?

Willie Mullins and Elliott have dominated recent runnings of the Forest Fest INH Flat Race and it was the former who lifted the prize on this occasion as Bentraghhill (2/1) made a good impression on debut.

Ile Atlantique and Redemption Day won this race for Closutton and hopes will be high that Bentraghhill can at least match their exploits. The well related five-year-old could only finish third on his sole start between the flags but that form had been boosted earlier on this card as Lazare De Star had finished one place in front of him that day.

Despite being keen under Jody Townend, Bentraghhill quickened impressively when they straightened for home, taking lengths out of the field and he only needed to be kept up to his work to win by four and a quarter lengths.

Nine Toes Tim finished off his race to good effect to take second, finishing four lengths clear of the Elliott trained 6/5 favourite Lemmy Caution.

Mullins said: "I did expect that. I was amazed Patrick didn't make it back up from Limerick to ride him here! He'd shown me plenty at home and I was very happy with him.

"On what he did there he must [rank among the better bumper horses in the yard]. He's a nice type, big chasing type. He'll stay in bumpers and we'll go jumping next season."

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