Abacadabras jumped to victory at Leopardstown in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novices Hurdle and with it to the top of the betting for the Supreme Novices' Hurdles at Cheltenham.
The win pays a huge compliment to stablemate Envoi Allen who comprehensively beat Abacadabras in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse four weeks ago.
Abacadabras justifies favouritism in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, showing huge potential for the Gordon Elliott yard pic.twitter.com/maqezhoKV9
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) December 27, 2019
Winning jockey Jack Kennedy told RTE after the race he"ran into a bit of a freak the last day" in reference to Envoi Allen.
The winning rider complimented his own horse adding that Abacadabras has "lots of gears" and was only doing the "bare minimum" to win his first Grade One.
Heaven Help Us finished second at a huge price, having won just a maiden hurdle at Cheltenham when last seen.
It's a significant feather in the cap of her trainer Paul Hennessy who is more readily associated with greyhound racing, having had Derby winners on both sides of the Irish sea in that sphere.
While the second favourite Blue Sari was very disappointing having finished in front of Abacadabras when the pair met in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper.
More Celebration
Trainer Gordon Elliott was relieved after the race having "hit the bar a few times" at the Leopardstown festival so far.
Elliott had more cause for celebration just 15 minutes later when Fury Road took the Grade Two Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle.
There was a dramatic moment at the final hurdle as Fury Road jumped it awkwardly, but Davy Russell was calm, the horse found a leg and partnership remained intact for a narrower win than expected.
The day got even better for Elliott, Gigginstown and Jack Kennedy when they combined with Roaring Bull to take the big handicap on the afternoon at Leopardstown, the Paddy Power Chase.
The day's results moved the Cheltenham ante-post novice markets significantly. Gordon Elliott trains the favourite for the three main novice hurdle races at the festival.
Abacadabras tops the market for the Supreme, Fury Road is favourite in places for the Albert Bartlett on the Friday of the festival and "the freak" that is Envoi Allen is a warm order at the top of the market for the Ballymore.
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