Cracking Smart and Jack Kennedy clear the last© Photo Healy Racing
Cracking Smart made it two from two over flights, as he took the Listed Paddy Power Acca Insurance Irish EBF Novice Hurdle.
The Gordon Elliott trained French bred was in fact recording his third win in-a-row, having won a bumper at Fairyhouse in April, before following-up on his debut over flights at Punchestown last month. Shady Operator finished second in that Punchestown contest, and he gave the form a boost by coming home a comfortable winner of the opener at Cork.
Stepping up to three miles for the first time today, the five-year-old victor was sent off the 5/4 favourite under Jack Kennedy.
Settled in second, he closed on the front-running Fabulous Saga from four out. He wasn't fluent over the next and pecked on landing at the back of the second last.
Despite those slight mishaps, he was pushed clear before the last and kept on well on the run-in to see off Robin Des Foret by eight and a half lengths.
The runner-up was returned a 9/4 chance under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins, while his stable mate Fabulous Saga was third.
Davy Condon, assistant trainer to Gordon Elliott, said afterwards: "Whatever he does this year will be a bonus because he is a real chaser for next year. Like all horses Eddie (O'Leary) buys for Gigginstown he'll have natural progression over hurdles and is your ideal model for chasing.
"Jack said he is still a big baby and took plenty of grabbing a hold of him and said he is really a horse for next year. I doubt Gordon will overdo him over hurdles this year and will mind him away but is one to look forward to."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
