Romeo Coolio Is All Class in Drinmore

Derby Sale graduate Romeo Coolio produced a faultless performance in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase, and confirmed the impression that he is potentially a chaser of the highest calibre.

The six-year-old always looked comfortable throughout the two-and-a-half mile contest, jumping with fluency and travelling strongly throughout, as he eased clear for an eight length success.

The son of Kayf Tara is owned by KTDA Racing, and was adding to his impressive start to chasing at Down Royal last month. It was a ninth Drinmore success for Gordon Elliott, who has saddled Derby Sale graduates Jessies Dream, No More Heros, Death Duty and Croke Park to win previous editions of the race.

It was a second Grade 1 victory for Romeo Coolio, who won the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle last season, en route to producing solid placed efforts in Grade 1 company at the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree.

He was purchased at the 2022 Derby Sale from Clononeen Stud by Monbeg Stables for €92,000, and won his four-year-old maiden on debut at Belclare. He was offered four days later at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Festival Sale where he emerged as the top priced lot having been purchased for £420,000 by his trainer and Aidan O’Ryan.

Elsewhere, on the high-class card, Derby Sale graduate Koktail Brut showed good battling qualities to fend off a determined Blake in the Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

It was a fifth win in the race for Gordon Elliott, who mentioned that the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle could be his next target.

The five-year-old son of Cokoriko was sold at the 2023 Derby Sale by Conor and Deirdre Cashman’s Drumlin Stud to Paddy Turley’s Kingsfield Stud for €40,000.

He’s a half-brother to the 2023 Munster National winner Gevrey, and was adding to a maiden hurdle success earlier in the month, while he landed a bumper on the corresponding card 12 months previously.