Double Scores and Bryan Cooper ping the last to win easily© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott is heading to Cheltenham next week with a team of over 20 horses headed by Gold Cup contender Don Cossack, and the Cullentra House team maintained their good form as Double Scores took the Mullins Magic Free Bet Offer At Coral.ie (C & G) Maiden Hurdle at Limerick.
The point-to-point winner was no match for a well-backed newcomer from the Charles Byrnes yard when runner-up on his hurdle debut at Clonmel last month but went one better here with the minimum of fuss.
Bryan Cooper showed no ill effects from a heavy fall here yesterday in electing to make all on the 4/9 favourite, and the lightly-raced seven-year-old settled things in a matter of strides after two out.
The son of Kalanisi stretched right away on the run-in to beat Kilcrea Bridge who made a number of jumping errors, by 12 lengths. Sweet Company was a further three and three quarter lengths away in third, while Baltic Voyager loomed up on the outer turning in but eventually had to settle for fourth spot.
Elliott said, "It was a weak race and he'll stay going during the summer in handicaps and novices. He'll also jump a fence sooner rather than later.
"He hasn't been the easiest to train and has had lots of problems but he has won now and that's the main thing."
(TW & AM)
