Al Gasparo caps a fine Festive period for Cromwell Gavin Cromwell has enjoyed a great Christmas period with five winners including two Grade 2’s and also two big handicaps as he added the €100,000 Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle to his tally at Leopardstown this afternoon. The 20/1 chance, twice successful at Killarney earlier this year but disappointing over three miles at Cheltenham last time, bounced back to his best here over 2m4f. The five-year-old made all under Conor Stone-Walsh and after asserting before the final flight, had to hold the late surge of Park Of Kings by half-a-length. Comfort Zone was a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third with Kings Hill completing the places in fourth. Cromwell said, “I’d say it’s important for him to be fresh. He’s good when he gets into that rhythm and gets it easy on his own. It was a good performance. “It’s in the lap of the handicapper now but he’s a lad that will jump a fence. “I’d say the 2m4f is ideal for him and he found three miles too far at Cheltenham the last day.”
