Famous colours in the winners’ enclosure at Downpatrick The colours of multiple Grade 1-winning owner Edward Ware were carried to a comfortable victory in the opening Randox Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick this afternoon. Trained by Tony Martin and ridden by Daniel King, the five-year-old Eben Zaabeel did the honours, at odds of 10/11 favourite. He easily picked off Gordon Elliott’s front-running 15/8 shot Euro Agent after the final hurdle to score by a length and three-parts, the pair all of 13 lengths clear of the 66/1 chance Fairy Meadow in third place. Tony Martin said: "He was very keen and free, and he had only one run over hurdles. The track's undulations might not have been in his favour. "They have done a great job on the track; it is watered and credit to them as it is as good as I've seen all over Ireland. We were happy to run him and take his chance. It all worked out well. "He was a bit keen, but during the race Dan got him switched off. He was a bit novicey but, overall, you'd be very happy and he won well. "There is only one winning post and it is fair stiff from the furlong (pole) home, you see an awful lot of results changing at Downpatrick and Galway and all those places with a stiff finish. "That man (King) is one of the best lads riding and he knows where the winning post is and that is what counts.” Additional reporting by Michael Graham
