Jeannot Lapin produces 150-1 shock at Leopardstown

Jeannot Lapin caused a 150-1 surprise when making a winning debut under rules in the Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Beginners Chase at Leopardstown.

Having failed to win in three point-to-points, the giant Gearoid O’Loughlin-trained five-year-old travelled sweetly throughout, defying his huge odds.

With the Willie Mullins-trained favourite It’s For Me pulled up early on by Daryl Jacob, it was What’s Up Darling who chased the winner home.

“I expected him to run really well as his home work had been very good. I thought he was a proper horse,” said O’Loughlin.

“I bought him in Doncaster off Sam Curling for £3,000, Dominic (Jones) was looking for a horse. I couldn’t find what was wrong with him and obviously there is nothing wrong with him. He was maybe a bit sick when he ran in his point-to-points or something.

“He’s from the family of Epatante and is by Doctor Dino so I wouldn’t say he stays three miles.

“He did a piece of work around Tipperary two weeks ago and showed me enough to say he’d be competitive in one of these. He was entitled to be here. He’s massive and he was a shell in May. To be fair to his owner Dominic he brought him home and fed him all through the summer.

“There is no plan, the plan was today as he wanted a runner here. He sent me off to buy a horse and I got one for three grand to run in Leopardstown at Christmas.

“I’ve never had a horse as big as him, maybe a hunter!”

Wendrock took the scalp of classy Flat performer Galileo Dame to get off the mark for Gordon Elliott in the three-year-old maiden hurdle.

Bought by Gigginstown House Stud for 82,000 guineas having finished third twice on the level for Lucinda Russell, he put the experience of his hurdling debut to good use.

Joseph O’Brien’s Galileo Dame had been sent off favourite for the Cheshire Oaks in May and went on to finish second in two Listed races. But her jumping left plenty to be desired and she just held off Noel Meade’s promising Money Dancer for second.

“That was grand. He doesn’t do anything flashy at home, but he has a good attitude and you’d like the way he went there,” said Elliott of the 3-1 winner.

“I’d imagine he’ll come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival, but to be honest I’d say he’s more of a Fred Winter horse than a Grade One horse.

“He’ll need another run to qualify so he’ll probably end up coming back for that and that will tell us where to go.”

He added: “We have one or two nice ones at home to run. We’re a bit short this year, but have a nice horse that came from France, he could probably end up coming here for the Grade One.”