Gordon Elliott blasts Down Royal ground
TALKING SHOP: Gordon Elliott gets the post-race debrief from jockey Harry Swan after Premier Division's bumper success. Picture: Healy Racing
Despite saddling a double at Down Royal, Gordon Elliott was far from happy with ground conditions which prompted him to withdraw five runners on Friday, including Grade One-winning hurdler Mange Tout and chasing debutant Ballyfad.
Speaking after With Nolimit comfortably justified 1-6 favourtism in the opening race, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, Elliott, who later won the bumper with Premier Division, was far from pleased with conditions at the track.
“It’s very disappointing,” he told . “ We know this meeting is coming at the same time every year and we flagged it up weeks ago. They were depending on the rain to come, the rain hasn’t come – you shouldn’t be waiting on rain to come. They’ve the best watering system in the country here and, for me, it’s not good enough.”
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Like Elliott, Henry de Bromhead saddled a double and the Waterford handler was delighted to see Ash Hobbs get herself some black-type in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle at Down Royal.
The daughter of Jack Hobbs continued her impressive transition to hurdling as she came home two and a quarter lengths clear of the field in the Grade Three event.
She had earlier launched her season by scoring on her first attempt over timber at Fairyhouse and De Bromhead believes she is a completely different animal over obstacles after two poor efforts in bumpers last season.
De Bromhead said of the 4-1 winner: “That was really good, delighted with her. She has really found her form.
“She always worked like a nice mare last year and she disappointed us in the bumpers, but the two times we ran her it was very testing ground.
“We just hoped jumping and nicer ground would stand to her, and she has really excelled. She’s like a different mare this year.
“The ground is important to her, so we’ll see what everyone wants to do, and we can make a plan.
“It’s lovely she’s a black-type mare now.”
De Bromhead completed his double when Matin Midi Et Soir (1-2 favourite) won the BetVictor Beginners Chase and the Drinmore Chase could now be on the agenda.
He added: “We have got to know him a lot more now and he’s a horse that we hope can go on to bigger and better things, fingers crossed. The Drinmore would certainly be on your mind, but we’ll see what everyone wants to do.”
