High Court Cave justifies favouritism in Downpatrick curtain raiser The Noel Kelly trained High Court Cave recorded a first success over flights when landing short odds in the opening Randox Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick. Reverting to maiden company, having finished runner-up in a competitive handicap hurdle at the Galway festival last time, the gelding was supported from 7/4 into 8/13f. A former point-to-point winner, the son of Court Cave landed a Sligo bumper for current connections last August. Prominent throughout under Oran McGill, the five-year-old headed leader Hello Yes after three out. Sea Eagle briefly emerged as a potential threat between the final two flights but High Court Cave asserted from the back of the last. Staying on strongly on the run-in, the eventual winner scored by four-and-three-quarter lengths. Sea Eagle kept on for second, with October Hill back in third. Noel Kelly said: "I was in two minds to go for the handicap hurdle or the maiden and it was a flick of a coin - it turned out alright! "He's a very useful jockey and rides him out at home and all. Oran is a good lad and knows the time of day. "We probably didn't get the straightest of runs with him the last two weeks, he had wee issues that annoyed him a bit. We were in two minds whether we were going to run him or not even. "I'm delighted he did that. It was that bad a race you had to go and give him a chance. He had a very good run in Galway. "I'll pick out another race. He's a local man, Victor McCrea (owner), he lives beside me and helps me out a lot all the way. He has three or four horses with me and he bought them all himself, and they are all very lucky to him. "He (High Court Cave) has plenty of ability on his day - he has a point-to-point and a bumper and a hurdle. He is probably an out-and-out chaser down the line. "I've no plans yet, I don't like running them too quick even though I do like to get a Listowel winner! I had it in the back of my mind and pencilled in - you might see him there on Saturday or so. I'll see what is happening, I'll not panic." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
