Samcro has star quality in Monksfield

Samcro cemented his position as one of the most exciting young jump horses in training when maintaining his unbeaten record with the minimum of fuss in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan.

The five-year-old son of Germany has yet to taste defeat in a point-to-point, three bumpers and now twice over hurdles as those who played at odds of 1/4 here never had a moments worry.

Jack Kennedy's mount travelled well throughout and cruised clear after the penultimate flight, with his young rider sitting quietly as he drew further away on the run-in.

The winning margin over Jetz in this Grade 3 event was 12 lengths, with Delta Work three quarters of a length back in third.

Paddy Power cut Samcro into 11/4 (from 4/1) for the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham next March.

Six from six - the mighty Samcro saunters to smooth success in the Grade 3 "Monksfield" Novice Hurdle at @NavanRacecourse: pic.twitter.com/lfuLKmfDyR

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 26, 2017

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said, "That was a good performance and he did it very well. Jack said he gave him a bit of light at the third last and he just took off on him.

"It was nice to see he could do that (over two and a half miles) so we have loads of options.

"I'd say he will be (better on better ground). I just said to Davy Condon at the start that the one worry I had was that it was his first time on that real, real heavy ground. Most good horses win on every ground and he looks a real nice one. We are lucky to have him.

"He jumped the last like he jumped a fence but after running in point-to-points you expect that.

"I don't know if we'll go for Christmas, we might wait for the (Lawlors Hotel) race in Naas (2m4f). He's obviously a horse for next year, whatever he does will be a bonus this year.

"I thought that was a bit special what he did there, it was class."

(MG & AM)