'He's a proper Gold Cup type, I hope' - Crawford thrilled with O'Toole triumph

Sunday: Down Royal

Stuart Crawford labelled O’Toole “a Gold Cup type” after the horse who chased home Kilcruit in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown last season made light work of his rivals in the 2m1f maiden hurdle.

Victory for JJ Slevin's mount kickstarted a double for the trainer at his local track, with Dorking Cock landing the 2m5f hunters chase, but there was no hiding which horse was the apple of Crawford’s eye.

Crawford said: “He's in a handful of the most exciting horses, certainly in Ireland, this winter. He's a proper Gold Cup type, I hope. He's a big staying chaser. He's not slow and will furnish more for another summer. He's improving all the time.

"We don't want to get to the bottom of him this season. He's still a big baby really and a pleasure to train. Daryl Jacob has been over and put a bit of work into them.

"I really can't wait to jump fences with him but we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves. He'll come on plenty for that and the further he goes the better he'll be. I would be hoping I'd be here talking to you [the press] after the [Grade 1] James Nicholson one day with him.”

Dorking Cock may have been the lesser fancied of the stable’s runners in the hunters chase but he galloped home best in the testing ground under Stephen Connor.

Crawford said: “It’s been a brilliant day. Any day you have one winner is a good day but to have two has been brilliant.”

Double up

The journey north also proved fruitful for Denis O’Regan as he steered two nice horses, Gerri Colombe and Fakir D’Alene, to victory for Gordon Elliott.

Gerri Colombe took the opening 2m4f maiden hurdle, while first-time blinkers worked on Fakir D’Alene as he demolished the field in the beginners' chase over the same distance.

Neil Ryan and Noel Meade also enjoyed a double courtesy of 2m1f handicap hurdle winner Ben Thomson and Pinkerton, who landed the bumper.

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