Ivy too Elusive for opposition

Local trainer Gavin Cromwell, who runs Jer's Girl in today's Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle, was on the mark at Punchestown yesterday when Elusive Ivy took the opening race at 16/1 under Brin Kane, JLT Handicap Hurdle.

'Having a bit of juice in the ground helped over this two-mile trip. She was a bit keen going down to the first but settled lovely after that and got a lovely run round. Everything went to plan and she's really turned a corner over the past three weeks. Her summer coat came and she has been working the best of her life,' said Cromwell.

 'She's been the work companion of Jer's Girl so hopefully they have brought each other on. She might go to Galway and then could go chasing. Brin has ridden 10 or 11 winners now all for me. He gets very few outside rides and I don't know why. He isn't getting much of a break but that will come,' concluded the trainer.

'Elusive Ivy has been good to me. She is definitely a little bit better over further - she won around here over two and a half miles and was very impressive. We were slightly sceptical about the trip but her form is solid and she was working with the likes of Jer's Girl during the week,” siad the jockey.

'They went a good gallop which suited me. As long as they were going quick enough, I hoped I would outstay those who wanted better ground on the day,' he added.