Stellar Story and Jack Kennedy, blue cap, land Grade 2 honours© Photo Healy Racing
The Grade 2 Boodles Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown must have been enjoyable watching for Gordon Elliott who supplied all three runners in this €36,500 contest over an extended three-miles. Stellar Story went off 8/15f, with Jack Kennedy in the plate for his chasing debut, and the pair scrambled home by a short head.
The favourite picked it up from the seventh fence but blundered six out. Crucially, he didn't lose much momentum. Search For Glory was the big danger two out with his jockey, Sam Ewing, much less animated than Kennedy.
Ewing soon asked his mount for more, but Search For Glory got the last wrong and Stellar Story, who is a strong stayer, was ridden on the run-in to go and win his race.
He was all out close home, on this his seasonal reappearance, but held on from the runner-up who kept coming on the run-in. Rainbow Trail was four and a-half lengths off the battle for first place.
All three runners were owned by Gigginstown House Stud.
Elliott said: "It was a competitive race and probably neither horse wanted to be in front. They are big, three-mile staying-chasers and idle in front.
“Sam’s lad wasn’t doing much in front and then when Jack got in front he wasn’t doing much either. At one stage they were only going 23 or 24mph.
“It was an exciting finish and all credit has to go to Michael O’Leary for running all three runners in the race.
“Search For Glory had a run and Stellar Story hadn’t. I’d say if Jack had another go he’d probably sit behind Sam and have one go at him. In fairness, both horses had a good school around.
“I’d imagine Stellar Story will run over three miles at Christmas and Search For Glory will probably be going for similar races.”
Stellar Story won last season's Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival by a head.
Paddy Power trimmed him from 20/1 to 16/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
