Fury Road breaks Grade 1 duck to add to Gordon Elliott's festive plunder

Wednesday: Leopardstown

It was probably unrealistic to expect anything to uproot Galopin Des Champs from Brown Advisory Novices' Chase favouritism after his beginners' chase victory on Tuesday, but the upwardly mobile Fury Road staked a solid claim for the festival prize with a smooth success in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase – his first win over fences.

It was a top-level breakthrough for the Gigginstown seven-year-old, who was beaten a neck by Monkfish in a thrilling 2020 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and disappointed after being backed into 4-1 for last season's Stayers' Hurdle.

Fury Road: made the breakthrough at Grade 1 level on Wednesday at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Beaten a length and a half in the Drinmore Novice Chase last month behind the same owners' Beacon Edge, who missed this race due to colic, the 153-rated hurdler made it third time lucky over fences under Jack Kennedy in smooth style and was cut to 10-1 (from 25) for the Brown Advisory with BoyleSports.

The other Gigginstown-Gordon Elliott contender Run Wild Fred had been sent off the 7-4 favourite for the 3m contest, won in recent years by the likes of Carlingford Lough, Don Poli, Our Duke, Shattered Love, Delta Work, Battleoverdoyen and Monkfish.

1.45 Leopardstown: Neville Hotels Novice Chase full result

A dreadful mistake at the tenth did the runaway Troytown Chase winner no favours, nor did the final fence being omitted due to low-lying sun, but Fury Road travelled sweetly in the first-time cheekpieces and came clear to strike by eight lengths.

It capped off an excellent festive period for Elliott, who had ten winners – including three Grade 1s – across the hectic four days.

Elliott said: "It's been a great week. Fury Road disappointed me last time because I thought he had a great chance in the Drinmore. He almost kind of pulled up when he got to the front so we put cheekpieces on him today and it seemed to work well.

"Jack was sweet on him. I'd say the dry enough ground probably suited him. His novice hurdle form is very good. I'd imagine it'll be the Brown Advisory for him at Cheltenham."

Gordon Elliott on Fury Road: 'I'd imagine it'll be the Brown Advisory for him at Cheltenham'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Run Wild Fred had been mentioned as a potential National Hunt Chase contender and Elliott said: "He looked like he could do with ten more jumps, the way he went over his fences bar one mistake. He'd have been a good winner if you take Fury Road out of it. He'll be okay."

There was early drama as the tapes went up, with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Mr Incredible, sent off 10-1, failing to go with the field.

Vanillier rallied to finish 18 lengths behind the winner in third and trainer Gavin Cromwell said: "I suppose we're probably leaning more towards the National Hunt Chase [than the Brown Advisory]. He ran a solid race."

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