Mission accomplished for Sarteano

Sarteano achieved his primary objective with victory in Down Royal’s opener, the A.Bartlett & Sons (Airdrie) Ltd Maiden Hurdle.

A large group of owners from the More Busted Sofa’s Syndicate cheered lustily as the grey returned to the winner’s enclosure as a 3-1 shot.

Arriving from a spell on the Flat, he was as tired as any of his mixed bag of rivals but put the race to bed at the penultimate flight for Roger Loughran to hold off Port La Chaine by three and a half lengths.

“That was the plan for a long time,” said trainer Dessie Hughes.

“The lads have always wanted a winner here, so that’s me off the hook!”