Gavin Cromwell big race winner at Leopardstown

Trainer Gavin Cromwell surely enjoyed the journey home from Leopardstown today after landing the big juvenile hurdle on the opening day of the Festival at the Foxrock track.

Espoir D'Allen extended a winning run to four out of four, this time in the prestigious Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle, with Mark Walsh on board.

"He's a very straightforward horse, jumps great and is very professional for a juvenile, although he was a little bit keen early on today," stated the trainer in a post-race interview.

Cromwell will be hoping to maintain his big race-winning form (weather permitting) when he bids for the Welsh national at Chepstow tomorrow with the Jimmy Swan-owned Raz De Maree (second in the race last year). Cromwell will also have Famous Milly in action in the valuable £50,000 juvenile hurdle at Chepstow.

Gordon Elliott, who will have Folsom Blue in the National at Chepstow, enjoyed a good St Stephen's Day and took the feature at Limerick when Dounikos capitalised on the departure of Al Boum Photo at the final fence to claim victory in the Grade 2 Novice Chase at Limerick with Elliott's Tombstone in second.

The success continued for Elliott with a four-timer at Down Royal.

Cubomania, running for Elliott for the first time, Stooshie, Sutton Manor and Minellafordollars completed the four-timer for the Longwood-bassed trainer at Down Royal.

There was a Meath flavour at the Ulster track as Nina Carberry was in double form with a winner for Noel Meade in the bumper with Brace Yourself and in the hunter chase with former Grade 1 winner Gilgamboa for trainer Enda Bolger ahead of Jim Dreaper's duo Venitien De Mai in second and Sizing Coal.