Samcro lands Cheltenham win

Bookies favourite Samcro has taken victory in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in a straightforward win.

The Gordon Elliott trained six-year-old took the advantage on the bend between the last two hurdles and never looked in real danger from there as he won by two-and- three-quarter lengths ahead of Black Op.

This was despite him hanging over to the rails racing towards the finish line which left a few punters nervous but no such doubts were required.

Samcro was able to coast to the finish line after the last hurdle with a blanket finish for third going to Next Destination in an exciting opening to Wednesday’s racing at Cheltenham.

Owner Michael O?’Leary was relieved to get a win under his belt as jockey Jack Kennedy did a fantastic job.

“It’s great”, he said. “Jack [Kennedy] gave him a peach of a ride. It’s great for Gordon [Elliott] to get one on the board and he’s done everything Gordon’s asked him to do.”

“Pressure comes with riding the best ones, but I wouldn’t change it for anything,” said Kennedy.

“He’s very straightforward to ride — he’s just a bit lazy when he hits the front, that’s the only thing. But he’s a great horse, probably the best I’ve ridden.”