No More Heroes lays waste with Grade 2 win

No More Heroes confirmed himself a horse of huge potential when landing the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle at Navan today, for trainer Gordon Elliott, jockey Barry Geraghty and owners Gigginstown House Stud.

Four to nine favourite Shaneshill runner-up in last March's Cheltenham Festival Bumper before taking the equivalent Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown, appeared to have taken command at the final flight but No More Heroes (3/1) responded gamely on the run-in. He eventually edged ahead in the closing stages for a length and three parts win.

Bookmaker reaction to the race was swift with Paddy Power cutting No More Heroes to 8/1, from 10s, for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham while pushing out Shaneshill to 10/1, from 7s, for the Neptune Novice Hurdle at the same festival.

An impressed Elliott later stated “I think he's a very nice horse. Barry said they didn't go fast enough for him, and he was a bit guessy at a few of them.

"I'm not sure where he'll go next, and Naas (Grade 1 Lawlors Hotel Novice Hurdle, January 4) may come a bit quick for him.

"He's a three-mile horse for Cheltenham and I'd be looking at the Albert Bartlett. He's a real relaxed horse and does everything at his own pace.”

The win was also the second big race success in an many weekends missed by Gigginstown House Stud's retained rider Bryan Cooper (Don Cossack's Grade 1 win last weekend), who again missed today's meeting through suspension.

'No More Heroes', apparently, is an action-adventure hack and slash video game for the Wii which takes place in the city of Santa Destroy.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee