Elliott at the double - twice
A winner on the all-weather in England before joining Elliott, 5/6 favourite Landau cruised to a cosy length and a quarter win over Captain Carleton in the opening Botanica International Natural Herbal Products Maiden Hurdle, quickening past his market rival early on the long, uphill run-in before being eased down near the finish.
“He’s a grand fun horse,” stated Elliott, “We’ll keep him going for a while, although he won’t run on heavy ground.”
Now based with Elliott, Luke Dempsey claimed a valuable 7lb. off the Gigginstown-owned top-weight Drunken Counsel in the Paddy Galbraith Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Ridden close to the pace, the hooded five-year-old proved an emphatic, twelve lengths winner over It’s All An Act, prompting Elliott to explain: “He’s going to the Sales (Doncaster) next week and will be better suited to racing in England.”
A three-time winner over fences in Britain for Robbie Hennessy, Hero De Villeneuve opened his account on home soil and over hurdles when justifying 3/1 favouritism in the Al Aasta Best Dressed Lady Handicap Hurdle.
Hennessy’s charge, ridden by Andrew Lynch, won convincingly, to the delight of his trainer, who explained: “He’s a bit of a crock — he’s had three wind operations and has a bad back, so we use the massage machine every day. But we have him right at the moment and he’ll either head to Perth next month or go for the Kerry National.”
Katie Walsh partnered the Mag Mullins-trained Young Dillon to a fifteen lengths win in the bumper, his trainer confirming: “He’s going to the Doncaster Sales next week and I think he’s a very good horse, improving all the time.”
Also bound for Doncaster is the Eoin Doyle-trained Fast Exit which, ridden by Mikey Butler, foiled Friday’s Kilbeggan winner and top-weight Lucky Pigeon in the Willie Murphy Jewellers Downpatrick Handicap Hurdle.
Mikey O’Connor intends giving Buster Dan Dan a break before returning to Downpatrick or heading back to Tramore following his all-the-way victory over Better Back Bob (rider Robbie Colgan picked-up a two-day whip ban) in the Fran And Maree Murrin Memorial Cup Maiden Hurdle.
The trainer-rider stated: “He’s tough and honest and stays well,” in describing Noel O’Sullivan’s six-year-old Buster King gelding.
Gerry Keane expressed his delight after hard-working Mark Flanagan registered a rare success in the saddle on board Effernock Lad, which made all in the Al Aasfa 2 Stables Dubai Maiden Hurdle before commenting: “It was an ordinary race. But this horse jumps and gallops and he’ll go handicapping now.”
