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Elliott picks up where he left off

Hardy Stuff and Sam Ewing (left) collar Ole OleHardy Stuff and Sam Ewing (left) collar Ole Ole
© Healy Racing Photos

After six winners across the three Irish cards yesterday, Gordon Elliott picked up where he left off as 20/1 chance Hardy Stuff lunged late to land Leopardstown's Day Two opener, the Paddy Power I Have No Idea What Day It Is 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.

Sam Ewing 's mount made headway after two out and was switched right before the last which he jumped in third.

The Ray Stokes-owned gelding, fourth on his previous start at Punchestown, stormed home and led in the final strides to beat Ole Ole (1lb overweight for Keith Donoghue) by a head with the strong-travelling Munsif another two and a half lengths back in fourth.

Trainer Gordon Elliott, whose better fancied runner Manoir De Mirande dropped out tamely, said "We fancied him in one of those Academy Hurdles early on and he ran out at the first bend.

“He’d a good run the last day when we dropped him in to get him settled and he flew home“

"They went a good gallop which suited him well and he came home strong.“

"He could be one for the Fred Winter at Cheltenham."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
20/1
Tote €24.70 €5.20
2nd
hd
11/1
€2.40
3rd
2.5L
7/2
€1.90
4th
4L
28/1
bf
11L
11/4Fav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.