Despite only three runners in the two-mile contest, it had a thrilling finish, with the Gordon Elliott-trained favourite just holding off Kargese (2/1) from the Willie Mullins yard.

Kargese, under Paul Townend, took the field around and was gaining at her jumps, with Romeo Coolio losing some lengths.

4-9F Romeo Coolio, for Jack Kennedy and Gordon Eliott, just held on at the line to repel a renewed effort from Kargese in the Goffs Irish Arkle@LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival #rtesport
@rte2 & @rteplayer pic.twitter.com/4yiwTuCZ7H

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 2, 2026

The mare led into the home straight and it looked as though she was on her way to victory, as the Jack Kennedy-ridden favourite seemed to be struggling.

Romeo Coolio soon fought back, and took the lead, but the mare was not going to go down without a fight and battled all the way to the line, being denied by a neck at the winning post.

The outsider, Downmexicoway (22/1), under Seán O’Keeffe, was third all the way around and collected €15,000 for completing the course.

Jack Kennedy, Gordon Elliott and the winning connection react to Romeo Coolio's 'gutsy' victory in the Goffs Irish Arkle@LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival #rtesport
@rte2 & @rteplayer pic.twitter.com/nnraYjmlam

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 2, 2026

The post Romeo Coolio holds off Kargese in Goffs Arkle Chase appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Backed into 3/1 favouritism, last year’s Triumph Hurdle runner-up, led home an irish-trained 1-2-3-4.

Runner-up was Gordon Elliott’s Ndaawi (25/1) under Jack Kennedy, a length and a half behind the Closutton winner.

Mullins was also responsible for both the third and fourth, with Absurde (5/1) and Danny Mullins one a half length further back, while Ethical Diamond (16/1) and Patrick Mullins completed the Irish clean weep another three-quarters of a length behind in fourth place.

Commenting on another Cheltenham 2025 win, the successful jockey Paul Townend admitted:

“She was keen today alright! That’s her though, she has the heart of a lion. I was in front a lot sooner than I wanted. But it might have actually helped me that when I got there, she parked a little bit and gave herself a breath of air, and that meant she could repel what was coming at me at the back of the last.”

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The Lisgoold, Co Cork rider won the Coolmore N.H. Sires Bolshoi Ballet Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, as expected, aboard Lossiemouth (2/11f), who ends the season unbeaten.

She lead home a Closutton 1-2-3 with Gala Marceau runner-up under Danny Mullins, with Ashroe Diamond in her final career race, third for Patrick Mullins.

The six-time champion rider Paul Townend followed this up two races later when Kargese (9/4f) came swiftly on the stands’ side to claim the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, both successes for champion trainer Willie Mullins.

Bottler’secret was second for Gavin Cromwell and Seán Flanagan, with Nurburgring next home for J.J. Slevin and Joseph O’Brien.

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