Journey With Me new Ballymore favourite after outbattling odds-on Kilcruit

Wednesday: Leopardstown

Journey With Me surged to the head of the ante-post market for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle after the highly touted youngster lived up to his billing in a top-class maiden hurdle at Leopardstown.

Owned by Robcour, Journey With Me was a late withdrawal from his intended debut over hurdles at Navan this month due to unsuitable ground, but the five-year-old took his chance and battled to see off the challenge of odds-on Kilcruit.

Betfair and Paddy Power cut him to 5-1 favourite (from 12) for the Ballymore, a race his Henry de Bromhead-trained stablemate Bob Olinger won last season. Sir Gerhard still shades favouritism with bet365, BetVictor, Betfred and Unibet.

De Bromhead said: "He's just a lovely horse and did it really well; he stays well. This generally is a very decent maiden hurdle, and Stattler won it last year."

Asked if the Ballymore was the likely route for the exciting youngster, De Bromhead said: "Don't talk to me about favourites – give me 10-1 shots all day long! I suppose it's not a bad sign but let's see, he's won a maiden hurdle. There's still a long way to go and we're delighted to win that.

Owner Brian Acheson kisses Journey With Me after his winCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's one of the few to buck the trend of our Christmas, so that's great. It must mean he's a good horse to win this week."

He added of his festive highs and lows: "It's tough but you get used to it. To expect the worst and hope for the best is the best thing I was ever told anyway."

Sexton shines on Kahala in Grade 3

Cheltenham Festival-winning rider Kevin Sexton picked a good moment to register his first winner at Leopardstown when Royal Kahala arrived late to overhaul Coral Cup winner Heaven Help Us in the Grade 3 mares' hurdle for Peter Fahey.

Owned by the Winning Ways Starlet Syndicate, the beaten favourite for last season's Mares' Novices' Hurdle pulled out all the stops at 11-4, while 9-4 favourite Shewearsitwell crashed out early.

Royal Kahala (second right): lunged late to get the better of Heaven Help UsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Fahey said: "Next season when she goes over fences I think she'll really come into her own over two and a half or three miles."

Sexton brought up a double aboard the Tony Martin-trained 6-1 shot Good Time Jonny in the 2m4f novice handicap hurdle.

Mullins extends Leopardstown monopoly

There was no stopping Willie Mullins for much of the Christmas period, particularly in bumpers at the Dublin venue.

Following on from Facile Vega, Embassy Gardens and Redemption Day across the opening three days, a game display from The Nice Guy in the final race completed the clean sweep for the champion trainer and Patrick Mullins.

Results, replays and analysis

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Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday, exclusively for Members' Club subscribers. Sign up to Members' Club here for more top jumps season insight.