Leopardstown: No More Heroes maintains unbeaten record

Gordon Elliot’s charge went off as the odds-on favourite and romped home

Byran Cooper onboard No More Heroes clears the last fence on his way to winning. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Byran Cooper onboard No More Heroes clears the last fence on his way to winning. Photo: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

No More Heroes maintained his unbeaten record over fences and picked up his second Grade One with a clinical performance in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase.

Gordon Elliott’s charge was sent off the odds-on favourite against just three rivals, with two of them in the same Gigginstown House Stud silks.

The Sandra Hughes-trained Wrath Of Titans set a sedate pace in the first half of the race but Bryan Cooper was happy to send the 4-9 market leader into the lead with a mile to run.

Noel Meade’s Monksland gave himself little chance of posing a threat by making several niggly errors, so it was left to Rule The World to pose the biggest danger.

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Approaching the last, Cooper allowed his mount to lengthen and he was spring-heeled at it, coming home nine lengths clear.

Elliott said: “He’s proper big, old-fashioned chaser. Bryan said he was a bit sloppy but the bit came back in his mouth turning down the back and he never missed a beat after.

“He’s a bit like myself, he just eats and sleeps. He’s very laid-back and I’m very lucky to have him. He’s a proper horse and hopefully we’ll have a lot of good days with him.

“Cheltenham never let it get too quick and he was just beaten there last year so hopefully we’ll go back. Gigginstown have a lot of horses and need to split them up so he’ll get an entry in the JLT, RSA and the four-miler.”

When asked to compare No More Heroes with stable star Don Cossack, Elliott said: “Don Cossack would be a more classy horse with more speed.

“He (No More Heroes) is more of an out-and-out stayer and jumping is his game.”