Luker's Tipple off the mark in emphatic fashion Coming into the race a 19-race maiden under both codes, the Gavin Cromwell trained Luker's Tipple registered a first success in impressive fashion when easily landing the Randox (C & G) Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick. Sent off 5/6f under Keith Donoghue, the five-year-old made most of the running and, had his rivals in trouble from three out. Pushed on to assert before the penultimate flight, the gelding coasted clear from the back of the last to score by an easy 31 lengths. Keith Donoghue said: "He definitely deserved that, he has been second enough times. "I said earlier today I would jump out and let him bowl in a bad race and put them under pressure. Then, the more I was thinking about it, I thought I wouldn't. Then when we jumped the first, I said 'ah here' as I felt like he was going, so I just let him on. "He's fit and he had the ability over them, so I suppose it was the way to ride him. "He loved it and he handled the track really well. When he got beaten here before, he probably didn't handle it. "Different bit on him today and no cross noseband. He went forward a bit easier with it. It is great he won. "You wouldn't like to count your chickens with this lad, hopefully he can (progress again). "He loves that (good ground) and, this time of year, hopefully he can win another one." Quotes by Michael Graham.
