Mark O’Hare brought up a quickfire double at Down Royal when riding 2/1 favourite Lord Redsgirth to success for trainer Gordon Elliott in the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle at Down Royal.
The jockey – from Warrenpoint, Co Down – powered clear before the last and the pair scored by eight-and-a-half-lengths to reward favourite backers who disregarded the horse's 229 day lay-off.
Trainer Gordon Elliott said: “He’s a big lean horse and he doesn’t carry a lot of condition. On his runs last season he was entitled to win that. I’ll look for a novice hurdle somewhere for him.” Butney Boy took the runner-up berth at 7/1 while 10/1 chance Milano Magic grabbed third-place prize money at 10/1, five lengths back.
There was an on-course gamble on Derrychrin from 20/1 to 10/1. However, the money was left behind as the five-year-old son of Flemensfirth finished fifth.
Michael Graham
