County Meath trainer, Gordon Elliott started where he left of when winning the opening maiden hurdle with Crown Theatre partnered by Paul Carberry – the trainer having registered trebles at the last two fixtures. The winner waited mid-division before moving third at the top of the hill and lead at the penultimate flight from Fearachan while favourite, Alileo never threatened and faded in the closing stages writes Joe Kavanagh.
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Ultra Light clears the last hurdle to tackle the home straight to win the Mobile Handicap Hurdle.[/caption]
The winning rider said: “The ground is on the slow side of good. He’s going to be a nice chaser.” Owner, Anthony O’Sullivan who was registering his first course winner added: “We were waiting for a little bit of good ground for him. The plan was to drop him out and come late. There’s no better man for that than Paul. I’ve a few point-to-pointers with Gordon. Gordon has done a great job with this horse and today was the day. It’s my first time at Downpatrick and it’s a brilliant spot, even better when you’ve a winner! I’ll be back.”
The Elliott/Carberry duo doubled up on the day when Formal Bid landed the Prestige Chase but had to work for it as the locally trained, Shershewill delivered a sustained challenge in the closing stages. Four in a Line jumped the penultimate fence but the winner asserted after clearing the final fence. Luddsdenene with Davy Russell aboard completed the now customary hat trick at the track for Elliott who was supervising his runners at the Cheltenham meeting.
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Enjoying the craic at the last race meeting of the year in Downpatrick.[/caption]
The locally trained, Better Back Bob filled the runner-up spot for the fourth consecutive time at the track when Somethingprecious trained and ridden by Danny Howard landed the EBF Hurdle after assuming command four out and maintaining the gallop to the line. Trainer/jockey Howard said: “I thought she would run well the last day, but things didn’t go her way. The rest of the boys took a tug and let me go on. I’d say she’ll go chasing now as she jumps a fence well. It was a six hour drive up this morning (from Co Clare).”
Ultra Light trained by Robbie Hennessey and partnered by Andrew Lynch claimed the handicap hurdle when staying on in resolute fashion in the closing stages. The trainer said: ” She ran badly last time and I put her out in the field for two days. She was in good form and I brought her back in and did nothing with her. I might run her again at Thurles next Thursday but she is in the December sales.”
The Kashline trainer Colin Bowe’s continued: “She ran off form when claiming the beginners chase with Mark Walsh aboard having ran mostly second prior to leading three out while Ravished which attempted to make all fell at the penultimate fence when held.” The winner handler who is considering running Little King Robin in the first day feature,the WKD Hurdle of the Down Royal Festival said ” We will look for a handicap next – his experience stood to him in what was not a great race.”
Champion Points rider Derek O’Connor combined with trainer Michael Hourigan the land the bumper with Drumacoo in the process denying Elliott a four timer with Miss North Light filling second in a dour battle to the line.
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