Minella Crooner driven home by Kennedy

Minella Crooner came home best to beat I Am Maximus in an interesting beginners' chase that got Fairyhouse's Winter Festival under way.

I Am Maximus was very strong in the market on his Irish debut for Willie Mullins having transferred from Nicky Henderson in Britain.

Minella Crooner was just beaten by a head on his chasing debut in a Grade 2 novice chase over an extended two miles six furlongs at Punchestown last month.

The trip for this assignment was an extended two miles five furlongs and I Am Maximus was backed down to 4/6 favourite with Minella Crooner 2/1 in what looked a match race.

Minella Crooner led and closely attended to by I Am Maximus before the latter picked it up at the sixth. I Am Maximus showed a propensity to jump left throughout.

There was very little between the pair at the business end but I Am Maximus held a definite lead racing to the last.

However, Minella Crooner was driven past him by Jack Kennedy on the run-in and just held the rallying challenger by a short head on the line. Largy Debut ran well for a long way in third before dropping six lengths off the runner-up.

Gordon Elliott said: “He’s a grand horse. We’ll probably head for Leopardstown over three miles and I’d imagine the further he goes the better he will be.

“He could be an ideal horse for a National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham because he doesn’t do a stroke.

“We were probably handed the race because the other horse jumped left but Jack said he has a great attitude and gallops the whole way.

“He’s very straightforward and was probably a bit fitter and sharper than the last day.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee