Velvet Elvis rocks up for Gibney & O'Keeffe

Tom Gibney and Darragh O’Keeffe successfully joined forces for the eighth time this season as Velvet Elvis landed the Happy New Year From All At Cork Maiden Hurdle.

The point-to-point winner made a bright start over hurdles when runner-up to Torygraph at Fairyhouse last month and went one better here over three miles.

The 11/8 chance led approaching the penultimate flight and was driven out on the run-in to hold the challenge of Mercury Lane by half a length. Emily Roebling was a further five and a half lengths back in third.

This continued a good run for O’Keeffe who has enjoyed high profile wins in recent weeks with Chatham Street Lad in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham and of course a Grade 1 victory aboard A Plus Tard in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown.

Gibney said, "Tt was great. He was an expensive purchase (£95,000) - he wasn't my purchase, he was bought by John (McConnell, for owner Derek Kierans) and there is a certain level of expectation when you shell out the dough and it is nice to get the win.

"It is tough going out there but he stays well and likes that ground. I ran him on good ground in Punchestown and he ran well although soft ground is more to his taste."

(TW & AM)