Four wins in Ireland for Elliott

Four wins in Ireland for Elliott

16 July 2014

MEATH handler Gordon Elliott saddled his first ever four-timer in Ireland at Downpatrick on Monday with Paul Carberry taking the honours with a treble before sister Nina wrapped up the day with success in the bumper.

Carberry’s first winner of the day came in the Downpatrick Family Day Maiden Hurdle where only six runners faced the starter. Brian Hamilton’s locally trained Big Kern, a previous course winner in early June, was strongly supported in the market, but the 8/11 favourite made a mistake at the first flight allowing Carberry to dictate matters on Moss Street.

Despite being less than foot perfect at the final flight, there was no cause for concern and Elliott’s runner strolled up the hill for a 12 lengths win from Big Kern and Robbie Power.

Win number two for the combination came in the handicap hurdle when 5/2 chance Swantykay improved on a decent run at Bellewstown recently.

With three flights to jump Carberry was sitting motionless and pounced just after the last before racing upsides Conor Maxwell on former course winner House Limits.

A shake of the reins at the dip saw Swantykay forge clear to have two-and-three-quarter lengths in hand at the post with Eoin Doyle’s Thoonavolla a further 14 lengths back in third.

The hat-trick for jockey and trainer came in the Joe Rea Memorial Handicap Hurdle where I C Gold showed her promising home work to be a good yardstick on her debut run for Elliott.

Carberry was content to place the six-year-old 100/30 chance towards the back of the field before taking closer order on the approach to the third last. After clearing the final flight Carberry’s mount responded well to overhaul Kevin Sexton on the gambled-on Lucky Pigeon (14/1 to 6/1) by a length and three quarters at the line.

“That’s the most important winner as it’s for Sean Gallagher who was one of my first patrons. She’s in at Kilbeggan on Friday,” said Elliott in the winner’s enclosure.

Orgilgo Bay, third in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, was sent off a mouth-watering 10/11 shot for the Bronte Homelands Hurdle and impressed when rewarding followers with an eye-catching 20 lengths success under jockey Mark Bolger.

After disappointing at Ballinrobe in April, John McConnell’s runner came back to form when second behind El Salvador at Bellewstown recently and is now ear-marked for a trip to contest the Galway Hurdle after running out an impressive winner.

“He’s a bit delicate and doesn’t take a lot of racing. You probably won’t see him until Galway. He’s a brilliant jumper who will have to go up a bit in the weights, but probably will after winning by that distance. Hopefully, he won’t go up too much,” said McConnell in the winner’s enclosure.

Kildare trainer Paul Fahey saddled Do Na Paisti for a comfortable victory in the mares’ maiden hurdle under 5lb claimer Shane Butler.

With the benefit of a recent run under her belt, Do Na Paisti improved into contention, jumping the third last and after hitting the front raced clear before being eased down to have five and a half lengths in hand of runner-up Indian Fairy (10/11 fav.) under Brian Cawley with 25/1 chance Stay Tuned three lengths back in third for Sligo trainer Mark McNiff.

Odds-on favourite Wandering Aengus (8/11) showed his staying qualities to good effect in the St. Patrick’s Country Maiden Hurdle when getting the better of John Cullen and Changeofluck by half a length.

The son of Tobougg led early on under 7lb claimer Shane Shortall and after getting to the head of affairs looked as if he would run out an easy winner. However, John Cullen had other ideas on 10/1 chance Changeofluck and forced the winner to pull out all the stops in the race for the line.

The final race of the day saw Gordon Elliott complete his four-timer when Nina Carberry sauntered to victory over her three rivals in the bumper.

Racing on 1/2 favourite Tom’s Article, Carberry eased to the front just under half a mile from home before racing clear of Inchavara in the final furlong to win by an eased down 13 lengths.

Next meeting: Sunday, August 10.