Gorgeous Tom relishes better ground to finish strongly

Gorgeous Tom outbattled even-money-favourite Mistergif to win the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle over an extended 2m3f in Punchestown for Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe.

Mistergif was looking for a gap and, when it emerged approaching the final flight, he burst through it to lead.

Gorgeous Tom quickly went after him and as Mistergif was hesitant into the last, Gorgeous Tom jumped it in the lead. He was big over it though and Mistergif got away from it the better to lead inside the final furlong.

Champs Elysees gelding Gorgeous Tom really found his stride in the closing stages on the drying ground as he took aim and passed Mistergif close home to score by a length at 4/1. Antrim Coast was another five lengths back in third at an easy-to-back 22/1.

This followed up on a Naas maiden hurdle win for Gorgeous Tom in early April.

De Bromhead said: “We’ve always liked him. He probably just struggled on that winter ground early on and we gave him a break after Christmas.

“He came back for the maiden hurdle and did it well. We hoped on better ground and stepping him up in trip would suit him.”

Jockey O'Keeffe added: "He was (good in Naas) and everybody was hoping the step up in trip and nicer ground (would bring improvement).

"If you look at his form in winter, it is rock-solid behind Slade Steel and Caldwell Potter, and even his race in Naas the last day, the third and fourth have come out and won since.

"He was good today, he was really brave at the last. I was kind of hanging on to him there and Paul (Townend on Mistergif) got a gap but, in fairness, this lad went down to the last and pinged it.

"I was happy to have something beside me to challenge and I'm delighted for everyone that he won today.

"When I went in front the last day in Naas, he kind of waited around and parked up a little bit, so I was hoping something would bring me to the last and even from the back of it. I knew this lad would find.

"He's a nice big horse and I'd say he will make a lovely chaser in time as well."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee