Ballyfad completes treble for Elliott While saddling three beaten favourites on this eight race programme, Gordon Elliott still came away with a treble, which was completed by Ballyfad in the concluding Eventsec (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race. The winner of a point-to-point at Fairyhouse in April when in the care of Luke Murphy, the Tirwanako four-year-old was subsequently purchased by current connections for E175,000. With the defection of stable companion With Nolimit, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned victor was expected to deliver this afternoon and was returned the 10/11 favourite under Josh Halford. Racing mainly in fourth, the market leader improved on the outer with over three-furlongs to go and was ridden to challenge the front-running Dubhain from early in the straight. Edging by that rival from the furlong pole, he then had to withstand the effort of Lexington Wood in the closing stages, with half-a-length separating them at the line. The runner-up was returned at 3/1 under Harry Swan for Philip Fenton, while the aforementioned Dubhain (11/4 from 4s) was another two-and-a-half lengths back in third. "Josh is a good rider, he's very cool - a little bit cool for my liking!" Elliott ,who was earlier successful with Mange Tout and Firefox, commented. "In fairness to him, he is with us the last couple of years and he is doing all the hard graft. Claiming 7lb, he is going to get plenty of chances. I'm delighted for him because he is a nice, young fella. "I thought he (Dubhain) was getting it (lead) a bit soft. I'd have sat second and kept it very simple, but Josh said he was happy and he had a full horse the whole way. He got the job done. "He's probably a horse that will be better with a jump in front of him, but these are all horses for the future. I'll speak to Michael and Eddie (O'Leary) and we will make a plan." On the two days at Down Royal, he added: "Seven winners is great and we were very unlucky not to have eight - hit the crossbar with a good few. You can't complain." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
