Queens Brook, far side, jumps the last just in front of Ciel De Neige© Photo Healy Racing
Queens Brook showed her fondness for Fairyhouse when winning at that venue for the second time in the two and a half mile hurdle.
Just the four runners went to post and the 11/8 joint favourite stalked Skyace throughout.
She closed up on the front-runner at the third last and was pushed along by Jack Kennedy to pass her coming to the next.
The other 11/8 joint favourite, Ciel De Neige loomed large on her shoulder jumping that flight, though.
A good jump there from Ciel De Neige had him almost on terms racing to the last, however, Queens Brook got away from it the quicker and stayed on grittily to win by four lengths.
This brought up a double on the card for Gordon Elliott who said: “She was getting a good weight allowance and we had to take our chance. It wasn't ideal running her back so soon but the race kind of came our way.
“Jack even said there today that she would come on again from it today, she had a good blow. She's a big mare and takes a lot of getting fit. She's very honest, she wants to win.
“We'll probably keep her over hurdles this year and it wouldn't shock me if she ended up in a nice handicap somewhere along the way.
“We'll probably keep her over hurdles this year. Sure it's nearly Christmas now and you wouldn't be running for another three or weeks.”
Elliott also saddled Three Stripe Life to land the preceding race on the card.
Queens Brook's last victory came in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in October 2020. She has since been second in a Grade 3 and third in a Grade 2.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
