Jockey Sam Ewing took his second Grade 1 win at the Christmas Festival on day two at Leopardstown.
After emerging victorious at Croke Park in a thrilling Racing Post long-distance novice race on Thursday, the County Antrim man rode 7-4 favorite Romeo Coolio to victory in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle on Friday afternoon.
The Gordon Elliott-trained horse leads by nine lengths in foggy conditions from his stablemate Bleu De Vassie with Eastern Legend in third.
“He ended up doing it the hard way in attack but he was very good all around,” Ewing said from Romeo Coolio on RTE.
“He's a good travel horse, big and strong. Once he gets out he's clear enough.”
In today's Grade 1 race, outsider Solness went 28-1 from pole to pole to take victory in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase.
Under JJ Slevin, the Joseph O'Brien-trained horse won by three and three quarter lengths from the 13-8 favorite Gaelic Warrior with Marine Nationale in third.