Felix Desjy settles well to his task

Gordon Elliott's Felix Desjy (13/8) wore down Sizing Pottsie to claim Grade 2 honours in the Mongey Communications Novice Chase at Punchestown.

Paddy Kennedy and Sizing Pottsie moved clear of the field approaching the third last and increased the margin sweeping the home bend.

Felix Desjy set off in pursuit as Darver Star the 11/10 favourite, began to toil in fourth.

Sizing Pottsie's lead was reduced after the penultimate fence and he was challenged at the last by Felix Desjy.

The latter came home strongly to pass 20/1 shot Sizing Pottsie in the closing stages and won by a length and three quarters.

Darver Star ran on in third, a further eight lengths adrift, without ever threatening.

Jockey Jack Kennedy said: “He's gone very relaxed now which is great because if something comes to take him on he's not tearing away with you, that's a great help.

“He put in a great round of jumping and I was delighted with him. He's deadly over a fence.

“I thought Sizing Pottsie might have got away from me a little bit but my lad loves that ground and he stays galloping.”

Gavin Cromwell said of Darver Star: “He's fine. We've always known that he likes a bit of nicer ground. That soft ground made him look slow, I don't know if he just wasn't enjoying it.

“On the whole he jumped well enough. Obviously you'd like to be winning there today but he didn't run shocking and went to the line well enough.

“We'll probably look at something over Christmas and he definitely wants a bit of nicer ground. We won't panic yet.”

Paddy Power make Felix Desjy 16/1 from 20s for the Arkle.

Just 15 minutes later Elliott's Duffle Coat came from last to first to land the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham. He is now four from four over hurdles.

Jockey Robbie Power said: "He is (a strong stayer), that's one way of describing him.

"Gordon said to me before the race that he doesn't show an awful lot at home but he keeps winning - that's the kind of horse you want.

"We went a proper gallop on soft ground and I felt we were going too fast. I couldn't go any faster. I just let him find his feet and when I gave him a squeeze at the top of the hill he picked up. To be fair to him he stayed going. It is hard work and the ground is tough.

"There will probably be classier juveniles that will come out in the next couple of months but there will be none more tenacious or gutsy than he is.

"Gordon will have plenty of options for him and I imagine when his juvenile days are finished he will be going up in trip. He hasn't run on the Flat either so he could go back and do that next summer."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson