Leopardstown Winner Completes Double For Walk In The Park

Patter Merchant (4g Walk In The Park – Bowenscourt, by Westerner) backed up his debut point-to-point win with a successful start under rules at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Gordon Elliott’s charge shaped like a smart prospect at Dromahane last month and carried the colours of Gigginstown House Stud for the first time in Thursday’s bumper. The bay was sent off favourite under Harry Swan and raced prominently throughout, asserting after the two furlong pole. Pushed along soon after, he kept on well to deny Sounds Victorius (Champs Elysees) by a neck on the line, with the pair finishing clear of the rest of the field.

“He's a nice horse,” Elliott said after the race. “He's a horse to go jumping and you probably won't see much more of him this year. He's a horse for next year.”

Bred by Brittas House Stud and Grenane House, Patter Merchant is a full-brother to smart novice hurdler Bowenspark (Walk In The Park). He became his stable’s second winner of the day by Walk In The Park, with Binge Worthy (5g Walk In The Park – Carrigeen Lonicera, by Old Vic) having earlier taken the maiden hurdle at Limerick.

Elliott and Aidan O’Ryan purchased the five-year-old in May for £160,000 following his debut win at Dromahane for Denis Murphy. He was partnered by Keith Donoghue on his hurdle bow and raced prominently in the two mile contest, improving to lead before two out. Shaken up to draw clear on the run-in, he won by five lengths from Secrecies Of Stone (Walk In The Park), while Pirate Island (Soldier Of Fortune) took third.

The promising son of Walk In The Park is owned by Dennis Gallagher Racing and was bred by Mrs RH Lalor.