Esporao finally opens account

A trip to Britain, probably Perth next month, is on the cards for Esporao following his all-the-way win in the opening Down District Council Ladies Day At Downpatrick Maiden Hurdle on the Co Down track yesterday.

Ridden by Paul Carberry, the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old was belatedly opening his account after a number of near misses and came home seven lengths clear of runner-up Clouded Thoughts.

Elliott said: “He deserved that, after knocking on the door for so long. He needs good ground and will probably head across the water in the next few weeks for a little ‘novice’.