Opera proves tough Grand Opera battled well to take the mile handicap at Dundalk under Declan McDonogh. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding hit the front from Avanti Albert just under a furlong out and rallied well to hold the renewed challenge of that rival by a head. "He's a nice horse. We gave him a run at Wolverhampton and he came on well from that," said Elliott. "There is an £18,000 handicap at Wolverhampton in two weeks time and he'll go for that. "He won't go on real winter ground over hurdles so we'll give him a couple more runs on the Flat and then give him a break."
