Favori De Champdou and Jordan Gainford© Photo Healy Racing
Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud won Limerick's Grade 2 Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Novice Hurdle for the fourth consecutive year today with Favori De Champdou for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jordan Gainford.
Defying absences of 626 days and 375 days in an abridged career, the seven year old returned to action when winning twice in November and today won comfortably by four and a quarter lengths from Letsbeclearaboutit
Gigginstown had won previous renewals with Fury Road (in 2019), Farouk D'alene (2020) and Eric Bloodaxe (2021) and today Elliott's assistant Ian 'Busty' Amond said “he did it well and Jordan said he was happy the whole way.
“He said it was the same as the lad yesterday (Gerri Colombe) as he didn't do much when he got to the front.
“He jumped very good, handled the ground and he is going the right way now.”
Gainford, who won yesterday's Grade 1 chase at today's venue on Elliott's Gerri Colombe, added “the race went to plan and he is a straightforward type of fella. They brought me along a nice gallop, he picked up and pricked his two ears at the last but got away from it well.
“He stays very well and going forward he is a lovely horse for the future.”