Leopardstown Christmas Festival: Romeo Coolio another winner for Sam Ewing and Gordon Elliott
Jockey Sam Ewing claimed his second Grade 1 win of Christmas Day at Leopardstown the next day.
The County Antrim man led a 7-4 win on Friday afternoon in the exciting Racing Post Novices’ Long Distance Chase at Croke Park on Thursday. Popular Romeo Coolio won the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle.
The Gordon Elliott-trained horse finished nine lengths ahead of stablemate Bleu De Vassy’s Eastern Legend in foggy conditions Legend) finished third.
“Ultimately had to do it the hard way up front, but he was excellent everywhere,” Romeo Curio’s Ewing said on RTE.
“He’s a good, big, strong touring horse. Once he gets out there, he’s straight-forward enough.”
In the first Grade 1 race of the day, outsider Solness cruised to victory in the Paddy’s Reward Club Chase with a score of 28-1.
Under JJ Slevin, the Joseph O’Brien-trained horse beat 13-8 favorite Gale by three and three-quarter lengths Gaelic Warrior, Marine Nationale finished third.
