Hello Neighbour the new 5-1 Triumph Hurdle favourite after vindicating bullish call by Gavin Cromwell

Hello Neighbour shot to the head of the Triumph Hurdle market after showing plenty of resolution land Grade 2 honours on his hurdling debut in the O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle.

Gavin Cromwell opted to start the Harzand gelding in Graded company instead of the three-year-old maiden hurdle 24 hours later and it proved an inspired decision as he prevailed by a neck under Keith Donoghue. His introduction to jumps was hotly anticipated given he reached an Racing Post Rating of 94 in two starts on the Flat courtesy of wins at Navan and Roscommon.

Well-backed into 9-4 favouritism, Hello Neighbour was travelling kindly in second place but an untidy jump two out briefly put him on the back foot. However, once asked to regain momentum,  he came alive again, grabbing the bridle turning for home before the field vanished into dense fog which threatened to derail the card before the next race.

Once they reappeared on the run-in, Hello Neighbour was in the ascendency and showed an excellent attitude to shrug off a thundering late effort from runner-up Lady Vega Allen, who was making her stable debut for Willie Mullins.

Paddy Power made the winner 5-1 clear favourite (from 10-1) for the Triumph Hurdle.

Cromwell said: "That was great. It was a brave call to come here on his first start and thankfully he hung on. He was keen in snatches in the race and because of that he didn't jump as well as he can do.

"I think when he learns to settle better in races he'll be better again. We'll look at the Dublin Racing Festival now."

Workahead and Mike O'Connor win the 2m maiden hurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Workahead shoots clear

Workahead improved plenty from his third-placed effort on his debut at Navan to run out a commanding seven-length winner of the 2m maiden hurdle under Mike O'Connor for Henry de Bromhead.

Racing in the same silks of esteemed stablemates Minella Indo and Monty's Star, the 13-2 chance never saw another rival and kept on smartly to defeat William Munny with a 13-length gap back to the third.

Paddy Power trimmed him into 25-1 (from 66-1) for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Winning start

Willie Mullins unleashed two smart recruits and they filled the first two spots in the opening 2m maiden hurdle as last season's George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper winner Kopek Des Bordes made a winning start over obstacles under Patrick Mullins.

The 4-6 favourite didn't always convince with his jumping but held enough in reserve to gallop clear by two and three quarter lengths from stablemate Kawaboomga. The winner was cut into 12-1 (from 20-1) for the Supreme with Paddy Power.

"He looks a tip top animal. We've always thought a fair bit of him," said the winning trainer. "He'd want to brush up his jumping but he'd look like one that could maybe come back here for a Grade 1 race at the Dublin Racing festival."

Green Splendour made it a double for the trainer and jockey as he landed the closing bumper by one and a quarter lengths from Khmer at odds of 11-4.

Read more:

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99 Grade 1 winners for Gordon Elliott as Croke Park emerges from the fog with more big-race glory 

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