'It's been a great meeting' - Champdou highlight of another double for Gainford

Tuesday: Limerick

After landing the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase on Monday with Gerri Colombe, Gordon Elliott and rider Jordan Gainford combined to win the feature on day two of the festival when the Gigginstown-owned Favori De Champdou ground out victory in the Grade 2 Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle.

Riders like Gainford are in prime position to benefit from the stable opportunities provided by the retirement of Davy Russell, and the young Wexford-born jockey is certainly taking advantage so far.

He was strong on Favori De Champdou, who was determined not to do more than necessary to confirm victory, but was still decisive in seeing off the brave challenge of the front-running Letsbeclearaboutit.

It has been a very good season for the seven-year-old winner, who is now unbeaten in three starts since returning from a year on the sidelines.

Elliott's travelling head groom Ian Amond said: "He did it well. Jordan said that he was happy the whole way and that he didn't do much when he got to the front. He jumped well and handled the ground. He has had a few problems, but he is going the right way now."

Well-named mare

Elliott and Gainford combined for another double, following their two wins on day one of this meeting, with a potentially even more exciting horse in five-year-old mare Shecouldbeanything, who had been unbeaten in a point-to-point and a bumper at this venue, and her record remains flawless after an impressive hurdles debut in the 2m4f mares' maiden.

The daughter of Malinas travelled well throughout and picked up well again after a very brief stumble at the back of the second-last to score by a very comfortable four lengths from the staying-on Hauturiere.

Gainford said: "She was very good. We went slow, she was keen and didn't help herself. I was trying to hold on to her for as long as I could after what she had done early in the race.

"She came down on her nose at the second-last and did well to stand up, but she jumped the last and quickened away. It was a very good performance.

"She's tough and took everything in her stride there. She's a very nice mare going forward. Her point form is on better ground, but she really handled that heavy ground today.

"It's been a great meeting for me, I have to thank Gordon, the owners for letting me ride these good horses, and the staff at home."

Another good hunter for Christie

Fermanagh trainer David Christie is looking increasingly strong in the hunter chase department, and introduced another potentially good horse to the track in Ultimate Optimist, who was an impressive winner of the 2m6f maiden.

Ridden by Barry O'Neill, the son of Fame And Glory was coming here having notched up a hat-trick in point-to-points, and having been left in front six out by the fall of clear leader War Call, he dominated from there.

David Christie: has another good hunter on his hands in Ultimate Optimist

A very good round of jumping and some relentless galloping saw him draw clear from before the second-last in scoring by a dozen lengths from decent yardstick Johngus, giving the stable a record of two out of two in hunter chases over Christmas after the success of Vaucelet at Down Royal the previous day.

Christie said: "We really like him. He was very weak when we got him and he has taken time to find himself, and in the last four or five weeks he has really started to strengthen up. He's an out-and-out stayer with class. We worked him with Vaucelet last Monday and there was not a lot between them.

"He will always be a special horse for me, because the first day he won for me was the day my father died, and that will always make that success one of a different kind. I regard him as top class."

Results, replays and analysis

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