Hardline added to a Sligo maiden win earlier this year when just coming out on top in a thrilling finish to the Irish Daily Star Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien for Gigginstown House Stud, the 16/1 chance didn’t go off unbacked as he was available at 33/1 earlier in the day.

Shane Shortall took his time on the six-year-old gelding and challenged approaching the final flight where the son of Morozov made a slight mistake.

However he dug deep on the run-in and just got up in the final strides to deny Low Sun by a head, with Sweet Company two and a quarter lengths back in third.

O’Brien said, “The better ground today helped him and we put a tongue tie on as well. Shane gave him a great ride and we tried different tactics holding him up a bit as well. That’s probably where the bit of improvement came from as we didn’t think he was that well handicapped. He even missed the last but stayed on it very well.”

Shortall said, “It all worked out well. We tried a different tactic with him today and dropped him in and switched him off as he was doing a bit too much in his previous races and not getting home.

“Things worked out really well that way and he came home really well. He missed the last but stuck his head out and tried hard under top weight. It was a good performance.”

(GC & AM)