Kalypso’chance makes no mistake at second time of asking over hurdles

Kalypso’chance showed more of his true ability to take the John Lynch Carpets & Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned chestnut had previously performed well in a point-to-point and two bumpers, after which he was upped in grade to finish out of the money in the Grade One National Hunt Flat contests at Cheltenham and Punchestown.

His hurdling debut at Down Royal ended in a well-beaten second and Elliott admitted to feeling underwhelmed by the run, but he returned to action at Grade Three level at Navan to run a far better race as the winner at 3-1, accounting for Paul Nolan’s The Big Clubman by a length and a quarter.

“We were disappointed in him the last day, but I’d say two miles was just too short and a lot of ours just needed the run at that stage,” the trainer said. “I was probably trying to be clever splitting them all up in Down Royal.

“I was nervous of running him back so quick, but in fairness it was the right decision.

“He was tough and in fairness to him, he was a different horse there today. You could see the way he was travelling with his head down, he was happy. In Down Royal, his head was in the air and he never jumped.

“He had good bumper form last year and probably tapered off a bit at the end of the year, but that was back to more like it today.

“I’d say that’s it (his trip, two and a half miles) and he could go further as well.

“Maybe straight to Naas because he’s after having two quick runs.

“Like most of those Gigginstown horses, he was bought to be a big chaser. I’d say whatever he does over hurdles, it is going to be chasing down the road.”