2022 began on the same note that 2021 had ended, with more Grade 1 success for Irish point-to-point graduates with Ginto making all in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle.
The race has an illustrious roll of honour for ex-Irish Pointers, having been won in the last two years by Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen who both went on to land the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival later that season and the Cheltenham Festival no beckons for the six-year-old who came home four and a half lengths clear of fellow pointing graduates Grand Jury and Hollow Games.
Notably Elliott had started the son of Walk In The Park off to win his point-to-point at Tattersalls in October 2020 before he was sold to leading owners Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud for whom he was a first ever Grade 1 winner.
"This is a race we always like to target and it's great to win it again with a horse that looks to have a bright future," Elliott said afterwards.
"We were hoping there would be more pace in the race but Jack used his head and let Ginto go on and in all his races we've seen him at his best in the last furlong and a half and that was the same there today.
"He was bought to be a chaser but we are delighted to get that today and we'll see what the ground is like at Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival or otherwise he might go straight to Cheltenham."
Elliott added: "He'll be better again when he gets a good gallop but all he does is stay and I'm delighted for Noel and Valerie (Moran) who are big supporters of Cullentra and of Irish racing and they'll get a good kick out of this."
Ginto is too strong for his rivals in the Grade 1 @LawlorsNaas Novice Hurdle, making all of the running before forging clear for an impressive success under @jackkennedy15 for trainer @gelliott_racing %uD83C%uDFC6%uD83D%uDC4F pic.twitter.com/aD3qYNQCUR
— Naas Racecourse (@NaasRacecourse) January 2, 2022
