Super Samcro clear JLT favourite after 'coming to life' on chase debut

Samcro made a huge impression when making a winning debut over fences under Keith Donoghue in the Advanced NI Scaffolding Beginners Chase at Down Royal, providing the headline leg in a sparkling five-timer for trainer Gordon Elliott.

The seven-year-old, who won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2018, found life tough last season, including when beaten at short odds in the WKD Hurdle on this card.

However, Samcro, who was sent off at 1-3, has clearly been revitalised and returned to winning ways on his first chasing outing. He cruised clear of Trappist Monk to win by 17 lengths.

Watch: Samcro make an effortless chasing debut

Having jumped well throughout, Samcro was shortened to 7-1 (from 10) for the JLT Novices' Chase in March by Betfair, with same firm also introducing him at 16-1 for the RSA Novices' Chase.

Donoghue said: "That was class. He has loads of scope and was just dossing on the front end. He went a bit right but if I had to wake him up he wouldn't. He came to life over the last.

"A better race with a proper gallop and you'll see the best of him. He's got the class to go any distance, ideally two and a half to three, but he seems to have the spark this year."

Samcro: pictured before winning the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle in 2018Credit: Edward Whitaker

Elliott added: "We had a long hard year with him last year but we have changed a few things with him this season, he's been scoping very well and I couldn't be happier with what he did there.

"Keith just popped him over the last three but when he picked up after the last he was gone in a few strides. He will go straight to the Drinmore now."

Elliott's other winners were Fury Road (8-11), Daylight Katie (1-3), Coeur Sublime (7-4) and Pencilfulloflead (6-5).

Coeur, what a Sublime performance!

Gordon Elliott's Coeur Sublime, who finished runner-up to Pentland Hills in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, got his season off to the perfect start with an emphatic victory in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle.

Ridden by Davy Russell, Coeur Sublime was positioned alongside pacemaker Western Victory throughout the early part of the contest before scooting clear down the side of the course.

He immediately got his four rivals off the bridle and, after clean leaps at the last two hurdles, he drew clear to win by a wide margin without coming off the bridle at odds of 7-4.

Coeur Sublime: Triumph Hurdle runner-up dotted up in the WKD HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Elliott, who also trained distant runner-up Coko Beach, said of the winner: "He's a nice horse – he was second in a Triumph Hurdle and was entitled to do that. He will stay further in time too.

"He looks a lot stronger this year and Davy says he feels like a different horse. We'll have plenty of fun with him. He'll have to improve to go the Champion Hurdle route but there are plenty of Grade 2s and Grade 3s to be won."

Coeur Sublime was cut to a best-priced 20-1 for the Unibet Champion Hurdle by Betway, while Paddy Power and Betfair were more impressed and shortened him to 16-1.

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