Memories of the great Danoli were rekindled when Golanbrook sporting the same blue and white silks of Dan O'Neill and trained also by Tom Foley, landed the Santas Little Helper Maiden Hurdle.
Runner-up on his previous three outings this term in maiden hurdles including behind useful sorts Mount Benbulben and Lord Windermere, the five-year-old was sent off a well-backed 5/4 favourite with Barry Geraghty in the saddle.
The “jolly” took it up entering the straight and, while not too fluent at the final hurdle, held main market-rival Are Ya Right Chief (7/4) by a quickly diminishing short-head.
The pair pulled 25 lengths clear of Miriam's Dream (25/1) in third. De Dodger fell while a close-up second at the penultimate flight, while long-time leader Snow Spell was beaten when exiting at the last.
Foley said, “Blinkers have their advantages but I think if he could have seen what was going on around him he would have won by further. It's the same prize-money if you win by a shorthead or ten lengths so I'm happy.
“We'll let him have his Christmas dinner and give him a little break,” added the Bagenalstown trainer.
