Greenmount Park is a Happy hunting ground for Dreams Happy Dreams enhanced his impressive record at Limerick, as he eased to a 20-length win in the Mr Binman Christmas Racing Festival 26th - 29th December Handicap Hurdle. No worse than third in seven previous visits to the venue, the Michael McDonagh-trained eight-year-old was registering a third course win. Sent off an easy-to-back 28/1 chance (from 10s early), the 97-rated eight-year-old dominated from flag fall with Cosmo Renfro. Drawing clear of their rivals and still locked together approaching the straight, the Ryan Treacy-ridden victor went on before two out and soon settled matters. Well-backed from 17/2 into 3/1 joint-favouritism, the aforementioned Cosmo Renfro had to settle for second on what was his debut Gavin Cromwell, while Gaelic Des Chastys (7/2) was another length-and-three-quarters back in third. Last of 13 finishers, Johnny Cakes was the other joint-favourite. "That was brilliant, he just seems to love this place and has never been out of the first three here. He loves soft ground and had run well in his previous run in March," assistant trainer Jamie Ivors commented. "We were starting today at our local track and thought he was fit without being fully ready, as we hadn't brought him away anywhere for a gallop. Today's race was competitive for its grade and we were carrying top weight, but he can go on that ground where others can't. "We were lucky the year he won the Tim Duggan Chase (2023) with his rating, but he mightn't be high enough to get in this year. He'll get an entry but he has options in other races here during Christmas. "We have a couple to run away during the winter and some have run well and won already, so we're trying to keep them rocking." STEWARDS REPORT J. Smith, rider of Fortunate Outcome, trained by Brian M. McMahon, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right throughout. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
