Image © Healy Racing
Croke Park who only won his beginners chase in November now has two Grade 1 victories to his name when winning the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase in the hands of Sam Ewing.
Albeit only four runners going to post, the race didn’t disappoint with the favourite Better Days Ahead battling it out with the eventual winner Croke Park, with latter prevailing by just a head.
This lightly race individual is on an upward trajectory and his trainer told Irishracing.com: “Obviously he came from the point-to-point field. He’s a very tough horse, honest and a great jumper. We’re absolutely delighted with the performance today.”
“I couldn’t see much of the race, but it’s great to win it. To be honest he (Croke Park) disappointed me so much as a hurdler last year, we had such expectations for him but he was probably so big and weak.
“He’s come back there now and has two Grade Ones won this season so I’m delighted for connections.”
Betfair left Croke Park unchanged at 16-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and there appears to every chance he will head straight there.
Elliott added: “He’s been busy enough and probably doesn’t need to run again before Cheltenham. I don’t think he wants real winter heavy ground.
“He maybe didn’t jump as well as he did the last day. Sam (Ewing) said he slipped going into the first.
