Eshtiaal atones in convincing style for Gordon Elliott

It was a night of mixed luck for trainer Gordon Elliott in Ballinrobe last night as Eshtiaal bolted-up in the Audi Ballina Handicap Hurdle, compensation following the defeat of both odds-on favourite Vercingetorix and Hostile Fire in the earlier Sheridan Electric 4-y-0 Hurdle.

Having unseated Richard Johnson at the start on his last hurdle outing — in Perth — the Bryan Cooper-ridden Eshtiaal justified 11/8 favouritism (the night’s only winning favourite) in convincing style, sweeping into the lead between the last two flights before forging clear to win comfortably by nine and a half lengths from longshot Desert Roe.

“He deserved that and won well,” stated Elliott. “He’ll stay further and I hope there’s a good flat handicap in him. He’s entered in a few places later in the week and will run again quickly – he could go to Cartmel on Thursday.”