Back-To-Back Grade 1 Wins For Son Of Walk In The Park

Croke Park (6g Walk In The Park – Toledana, by Protektor) dug deep to remain unbeaten over fences and recorded back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Long Distance Novice Chase, the feature race at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.

Gordon Elliott’s charge had made all in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase earlier in the month and Sam Ewing employed the same tactics on Thursday. The bay turned for home with stablemate Better Days Ahead (Milan) in close contention, the pair clear of the remainder at that stage. The stablemates rallied to the line, where Croke Park prevailed by a head.

Elliott later said of the winner: “He’s a very tough horse, honest and a great jumper. We’re absolutely delighted with the performance today.” Elliott added that Croke Park may head straight to Cheltenham, where he is 16/1 for the Browns Advisory Novice Chase.

A Grade 3 winner over hurdles, Croke Park was bought by Elliott for £400,000 after winning a four-year-old maiden for Denis Murphy. The son of Grange Stud sire Walk In The Park was bred by AV Bloodstock and is a half-brother to Grade 1 winning hurdler Farren Glory (Fame And Glory).