Champion Hurdle favourite Rhinestone Cowboy flopped in the Bewleys Hotels December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown today as Golden Cross sprang a 66-1 shock.
The winner, trained by Michael Halford and ridden by Adrian Lane, led on the run-in to beat Spirit Leader by a length and a half. The Noel Chance-trained Flame Creek was third.
Rhinestone Cowboy, the 11-10 favourite, was a huge disappointment, never getting in a blow and finishing sixth of the seven runners.
As expected, Solerina made the early running ahead of Flame Creek, with Back In Front in close attendance. Seamus Durack committed Flame Creek after the third-last hurdle and the English raider went two lengths clear of Solerina, as Back in Front found little.
Rhinestone Cowboy, who had been dropped in behind, produced nothing when required and could not get anywhere near the leaders.
Golden Cross touched down after the last alongside Flame Creek and ran on strongly, while Spirit Leader stayed on to snatch second place close home.
A delighted Halford said: "This is a really pleasant surprise. I thought he was more of a Stayers' Hurdle horse but that it might come a season too soon for him, so I really just brought him here today to see what he could do.
"The cheekpieces have really helped and he enjoyed the fast pace. He didn't deserve to be a 66-1 chance on his Triumph Hurdle form of last season.
"I'm really pleased for Adrian. He is a hard-working lad who has a good future."