Favori De Champdou © Photo Healy Racing
The 11/10 favourite Favori De Champdou made most to win the 2m7f maiden hurdle under Jack Kennedy. Silver Gazette was the only threat to the market leader between the final two flights but he stayed on well to beat that rival by three and three parts of a length.
The lightly-raced Saddler Maker gelding, a bumper winner here in 2020, had been runner-up on his only previous hurdles start at Galway over a year ago.
Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said: "He did everything right and Jack gave him a good ride. He is one of Gigginstown's and they like them ridden up there but we thought he'd need the run and he looked big in the ring.
"He jumped great and he'll probably go chasing now."
Looking ahead to the two-day meeting at Down Royal where he will have a host of fancied runners, Elliott added: "I like starting my horses in Down Royal and the ground is good and safe.
"The Grade 1 looks to be a good race with Kemboy, Beacon Edge and Envoi Allen and my two are in good form.
"I thought Galvin was good at Punchestown when he gave 12lb to everything and has got stronger. If you took A Plus Tard out of the Gold Cup, he wasn't beaten far and the race wasn't run to suit him as they didn't go quick. He is a good horse.
"Conflated's last two runs were very good and I probably ran him in the wrong race by running him in the Ryanair Chase in Cheltenham. He will come on from the run on Saturday."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
