Croke Park beats Better Days Ahead at Leopardstown

Croke Park held off Better Days Ahead in the opening day's Grade One contest

Gordon Elliott's Croke Park hung on to win a thrilling Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase in foggy conditions on day one of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Croke Park narrowly beat 10-11 favourite and stablemate Better Days Ahead as Paul Gilligan's Buddy One finished third.

Only four went to the post, with Elliott's Stellar Story a tailed-off last.

Amid thick fog, which forced a 30-minute delay to the Grade One contest, Croke Park and Better Days Ahead emerged as the frontrunners.

Despite a strong finish from Better Days Ahead, Croke Park clung on to win by a head, with Sam Ewing the winning jockey.

"Obviously he came from the point-to-point field. He's a very tough horse, honest and a great jumper. We're absolutely delighted with the performance today," said trainer Elliott.

"I couldn't see much of the race, but it's great to win it. To be honest, he [Croke Park] disappointed me so much as a hurdler last year, we had such expectations for him but he was probably so big and weak.

"He's come back there now and has two Grade Ones won this season so I'm delighted for connections."

Earlier, Kopek Des Bordes was a clear-cut winner for Willie and Patrick Mullins in the TRI Equestrian Maiden Hurdle with Henry de Bromhead's Workahead claiming a dominant win in the Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle.

Favourite Hello Neighbour made a winning start to his jumping career by securing a Grade Two success in the Juvenile Hurdle for Gavin Cromwell before Shraheen won the Novice Handicap Hurdle.