Last to first win for Elusive Duke under Whelan Ronan Whelan produced the Kevin Coleman trained Elusive Duke from well off the pace to win the Division l of the Jerry Fish Handicap at Leopardstown. Runner-up at Cork on his racecourse debut last September, the three-year-old had shown more than a hint of ability on a couple of subsequent occasions. However, it was the step up beyond a mile for the first time in his career that proved the key, as the well supported 4/1f kept on best to gain a breakthrough success. Held up last of the 17 runners in the early stages, Elusive Duke was still only fourth from last entering the straight, as Clever And Classy and El Bello battled it out up front. Ridden to go sixth over a furlong out, the eventual winner came through with Flier over 100 yards out. However, as stamina kicked in close home, the Coleman trained gelding found extra to score narrowly by half-a-length. “The last day was the plan in Limerick!” said Coleman. “Wayne Lordan was right. He was second first time out in Cork over six as a two-year-old and he always said that he needs to go further. “Even the last day he said to step him up again. Wayne rides him most of the time but unfortunately he couldn’t today as he’s in Royal Ascot and Ronan did a marvellous job. “He needed every bit of the trip, he’s very tough. “When he was second the first time I didn’t think it would take seven runs to win. He likes good ground. “Tom (Westropp Bennett) is here with his family and he had a winner at Kilbeggan the other night (Gaelic Arc) with John Ryan. It’s good that they are here.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
