Sir Erec (Mark Walsh) leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O’Brien recorded a 1-2 in the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown as Sir Erec enhanced his reputation from the front under Mark Walsh.
The son of Camelot was a decent stayer on the Flat last year when trained by O’Brien’s father Aidan, and got his jumping career off to a bright start when successful here at the Christmas Festival meeting.
Walsh elected to make all on the 13/8 favourite, and the Listed winner on the level stayed on strongly to draw clear on the run-in.
Six lengths was the winning margin at the line over stable-companion Gardens Of Babylon with Surin finding no extra another half a length away in third.
O’Brien said, “He jumped well today. Making the running wasn’t ideal but he’s uncomplicated and Mark gave him a lovely ride. He got him into a great rhythm and he said he jumped on the bridle at the second last. He’s hugely exciting.
“He’s two out of two (over hurdles) and while you would love to have more experience, he’ll probably head to the Triumph Hurdle now.
“He sprinted from the back of the last. You would have said stamina would always have been his forte but he showed plenty of speed today. He’s won on testing ground (on the Flat) at Limerick so he’s versatile.
“Fakir d’Oudairies had three runs over hurdles and two runs over fences in France and this fella is only having his second run over hurdles so experience wise there is a big difference but I don’t know if he’d have the engine of this fella.
“Gardens Of Babylon has options in the Fred Winter and the 2m5f (Ballymore) race as well. Looking at him today you would say he might want further. He didn’t travel as well as some of the others but seemed to gallop out well. We’ll see what the handicapper does.”
Walsh said, “He was good and he had to do it the hard way. I would have liked a lead but he'll learn from it and hopefully he'll show up in Cheltenham in as good form. He's won on soft on the Flat as well so he's versatile that way.”
Sir Erec is now clear favourite for the Triumph Hurdle with Boylesports and Ladbrokes going 11/4 and Paddy Power 5/2 (from 6/1).
O'Brien also has the second favourite for that race with Fakir d'Oudairies a general 5/1 chance.
