Elusive Ivy leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Gavin Cromwell is one of the star 'finds' of the current jumps season and Don Cossack's farrier added to a recent Grade 1 win at Fairyhouse with another high profile Festival training success, when his Elusive Ivy landed the opening JLT Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown today.
Ridden by promising claimer Brien Kane, Elusive Ivy battled gamely on the run-in to score a 16/1 success and beat The Brock Inn by three parts of a length.
Cromwell doubles up as a farrier for trainer Gordon Elliott and having shod Don Cossack for his Cheltenham Gold Cup win, also registered Grade 1 glory himself at the recent Fairyhouse festival with his J.P. McManus owned Jer's Girl.
Registering his 13th winner of the season, Cromwell today commented “the little bit of juice in the ground helped her as I thought the two miles might be a bit sharp. She's stays two-and-a-half.
“Brien gave her a smashing ride and everything went to plan. The last three weeks she has really turned a corner. She got her summer coat and has been working really well.
“She's been Jer's Girl's (runs tomorrow) work companion so hopefully they have brought each other on. She'll stay going now and could go chasing.”
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
