Romeo Coolio had to show he was game as well as classy when getting up in the final strides to deny Irish Panther in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
Gordon Elliott's charge had impressed in winning the two-and-a-half-mile Drinmore last time out but was dropping back three furlongs in trip on this occasion.
It looked like catching him out as when Irish Panther took over from the keen-going Westport Cove before the turn for home, Jack Kennedy was hard at work on the 8-15 favourite back in third, with July Flower between the pair.
Approaching the last, July Flower was running on empty as Romeo Coolio’s stamina was keeping him in touch and while Irish Panther still looked to be going strong he was reeled in eventually, with Romeo Coolio winning by half a length.
Romeo Coolio (8-15F) just gets up to deny Irish Panther in the Racing Post Novice Chase at @LeopardstownRC @RTE2 @RTEplayer #rtesport pic.twitter.com/EZxl1jR64J
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 26, 2025
"I was hoping the line was going to be further away than it was," said Elliott.
"Jack said Kieren Buckley (on Irish Panther) was very good on his horse, he winged it and got three lengths on him and we got stuck in a pocket.
"The horse was very gutsy, we know he stays very well and we’ll have learned a lot from today.
"I said to Jack straight away that two miles is going to be too sharp for him but he said 'don’t rule it out yet, he’ll have learned a lot from today as he was spending a bit of time in the air over his fences and was a bit slow away from them’.
"If we got soft ground on the first day of Cheltenham, you’d never know.
"The beauty I have with these owners is that we can leave everything as late as we can. We can enter him in everything and then see what we do."
When asked if he was surprised that he had to work so hard, Elliott added: "I’m never surprised by anything in this game. I knew when we got in a bit of a pocket at the second that this could get away from us.
"Our plan was to be upsides at the second last and gone but there was nothing we could do.
"He’s a very good horse but talk of Gold Cups means another mile and a quarter, to be honest he could be more of a Ryanair horse than anything. We’ll enjoy today."
Kennedy rode a treble on the day but missed his final mount after a heavy fall in the second race from El Cairos.
Narciso Has looked a different proposition to what he had on his debut for Willie Mullins when bolting up in the Changing Times Brewery Juvenile Hurdle.
A winner over hurdles in France, he was sent off favourite on his Irish debut in a Grade Three event at Fairyhouse but had to settle for second behind Gordon Elliott's smart recruit Mange Tout.
Always prominent, Narciso Has (11-10 favourite) gradually wound up the pace under Danny Mullins and turning into the straight began to build up a healthy lead.
A smart performance from Willie Mullins' Narciso Has, the 11-10F, in the hands of Danny Mullins, to win the Changing Times Brewery Juvenile Hurdle@LeopardstownRC @RTE2 @RTEplayer #rtesport pic.twitter.com/RqacGmzffm
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 26, 2025
He went further and further clear on jumping the last, winning by 11 lengths from Adrienne and assuming Triumph Hurdle favouritism.
"He ran brilliant in Fairyhouse for a horse with such inexperience," said David Casey, Mullins' assistant.
"We thought he'd improve from there and were kind of hoping he'd put up that performance today. I think there is plenty of improvement to come as well.
"He's a horse that stays well. We like him, he's a fair horse.
"We were confident he would keep going. Danny wanted to be positive and it worked out great."
