Next Stop Paris delivers on promise to get off the mark Having caught the eye on a couple of occasions of late, the Gavin Cromwell trained Next Stop Paris delivered on the promise of previous outings when landing Division l of the Tesla Handicap Hurdle at Cork. Well backed when falling three out at Fairyhouse in February, the lightly raced gelded was very disappointing on his next start at Clonmel. Having shown a bit more last time when a staying on third over 2m1f at Bellewstown, the Westerner gelding seemed to appreciate the step up in distance here. Travelling strongly on the heels of the leaders, Keith Donoghue took the 5/2f to the front with a circuit to race. Gradually winding it up from there, the Meath man had most of his rivals in trouble on the run to two out. Cullagh Pride stayed on from out of the pack to take second close home but the half-length winner was not for catching. Donoghue reported: "He was tough and the step up in trip helped. He was a little keen and we didn't go much of a gallop so I left him on. He was idling a little bit but kept on well. "He disappointed on the heavy ground previously at Clonmel and while he had a good run at Bellewstown the last day, the sharp track and racing over 2m1f caught him out. We thought he'd take beating going up in trip today." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
