Festival D'ex finishes strongly to open hurdle account

Festival D’ex got his hurdling career off to a winning start at Navan but those who helped send him off the 5/4 favourite had plenty of anxious moments before the promising gelding got up close home in the Kells Maiden Hurdle.

The son of Saddler Maker took the valuable Goffs Land Rover Bumper in decisive fashion at the Punchestown Festival and, with Tiger Tap Tap an absentee due to a skin infection, was heavily supported on track from 5/2 into 5/4 favourite.

Pure Genius and Fusain appeared to have slipped the remainder of the 26-strong field when clear entering the straight, and Festival D’ex still had about five lengths to make up as Fusain struck the front before the last.

However, he stayed on strongly up the final hill and got up in the closing stages under Davy Russell to score by a length and three quarters.

Pure Genius weakened to finish a further six and a half lengths away in third.

Betfair introduced the winner at 33/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliot said, “He's a grand horse. He doesn't do anything fancy at home but he does all his running on the track. He won snug at the end and pricked his ears in the last 100 yards. He's a nice horse.

“I'd say a step up in trip will suit him better and we'll probably keep it small with him and see.”

(GC & AM)