Bachelor Lad confirms liking for Downpatrick

TRAINER Colin McBratney and in-form rider Eddie O’Connell were in double form at Downpatrick yesterday, sharing in the victory of Bachelor Lad in the featured Blue Ridge Rosebank Novice Hurdle.

Already a course and distance winner this year, Bachelor Lad again adopted a front-running role in the three-runner affair, for which the Gordon Elliott trained Atlanta Falcon was sent off a red-hot 30/100 favourite.

But Jason Maguire was sending out distress signals on the favourite soon after the third last, leaving 25/1 shot Bold Apache to mount the only challenge to O’Connell’s mount in the closing stages.