Mighty Bandit another for Elliott and Kennedy

Gordon Elliott 's Mighty Bandit make a winning debut in the three-year-old maiden hurdle which got Punchestown's Winter Festival under way. Biggerthanbigtime who had the most hurdle experience of the 12 runners, cut out the running over this extended two miles and was still in front on the long run to the last flight. He was followed through by Green Sky with stablemates Mighty Bandit and Pacini in close attendance.

It was all change approaching the last as Mighty Bandit progressed to lead narrowly from Lark In The Mornin who made good headway into second as Biggerthanbigtime gave best.

Lark In The Mornin pecked upon landing, though, and Mighty Bandit was able to run right away from him to score by nine and a-half lengths at 3/1. Joseph O'Brien's runner-up went off the 11/4 favourite and was seven-and-a-half-lengths clear of his stablemate Harsh (5/1).

Elliott said: “I’d say he’s a nice horse. We gave him two bits of work and he worked well and then he got light, so we’ve done nothing with him since.

“We didn’t really know what to expect, but Jack (Kennedy) said you’d have to be impressed with what you saw there. He was happy with him.

“He’d plenty of schooling done at home and he should strengthen up as the season goes on.

“We’ll look at Christmas now with him.”

Paddy Power cut Mighty Bandit from 33/1 to 12/1 for the Triumph Hurdle.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee