Farouk D'alene, white cap© Photo Healy Racing
Farouk D'alene ground out victory over Beacon Edge to get his first graded success over fences.
Gordon Elliott 's charge had been runner-up in a Grade 3 and a Grade 1 (when beaten a short head at Limerick over Christmas) in his last couple of starts over fences.
He was always to the fore in this Grade 2 over three miles but a mistake four out allowed Beacon Edge to get right on terms.
He led narrowly over three out but was headed between the final two fences. The 4/11 favourite came under the whip racing to the last but he responded and jumped it slightly better than Beacon Edge.
He soon got to the front on the run-in and toughed it out best by three parts of a length.
This gave Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy a double on the card as they also teamed up with Irish Blaze in the opener.
Elliott said: “He was entitled to do that and he only does what he has to do.
“I thought Limerick was going to happen again there and he was going to get collared on the line.
“He's a grand horse. He's in the RSA and the National Hunt Chase. We'll see where we are and see what the ground is and then make our mind up. He'd need soft in it.
“He a deceiving type of horse, he's quicker than he looks.
“He didn't jump great in Naas the last day and it took him a while to get his confidence there. Down over the last three he was good.”
Farouk D'alene also won at Grade 2 level over hurdles.
Elliott's Run Wild Fred was a notable non runner in this contest.
Paddy Power made Farouk D'alene 12/1 from 14/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (non runner money back).
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
