Kennedy conjures late surge from Phil

The Gordon Elliott-trained A Toi Phil came with a storming late run to land the big pot in the Coral.ie Leopardstown Handicap Chase.

It was another big winner for rising star Jack Kennedy who conjured a terrific finishing kick from the Gigginstown gelding.

The 7/2 favourite looked to have plenty to do jumping the last but clawed back Stellar Notion in the last strides to record a neck success in the €100,000 contest.

“He said he was flat out the whole way. I’d say because it was his first run in a handicap he was a bit novicey,” said Elliott.

“He’d maybe be a bit better with a bit of light but thankfully he had his head in front at the right time.

“I thought he had a nice mark but you always worry about lack of experience. If you watched him in the Drinmore he got in behind a few, backed off and was a bit cowardly.

“These are the race we want to win so we had to give him a rattle at it. When I saw the entries I thought he was well weighted.

“We have Cheltenham as an option but he’s still a novice so we might miss that and keep him at home. There is plenty of good prize-money at home.

“I’d say on that ground he’d stay any trip but not on heavy ground.

“We’re very lucky to have the bunch of horses we have. These horses are all bought to be graded horses and if they just fall below the pecking order they can end up getting in to these races off nice marks.

“I’m in a lucky position to have not just Gigginstown but all the owners with these type of horses. We’ve won for a variety of different owners.”

Kennedy added:- “I was a bit further back than I wanted to be. I switched in going to the last and I needed to wing it.

“He didn’t jump like a novice and it was a great performance. He’s tough and stayed galloping.”