Knight's Parade and Davy Condon sees off his Gordon Elliott stable companion, Cape Glory (Bryan Cooper)© Photo Healy Racing
There was a second winner in as many races for favourite backers at Downpatrick as Gordon Elliott's Knight's Parade got up to touch off his stable companion Cape Glory in the Visit Toals.co.uk Rated Hurdle.
Unfortunately Barry Geraghty had to give up his ride on the favourite, Jumptoconclusions in the following race, after his mount, Sailors Warn fell two out here, when still in with every chance. Massini's Trap following on in behind was brought down in the same incident.
Davy Condon on Knight's Parade, managed to edge away around his unfortunate rivals, and he was in pursuit of Cape Glory as that one made his race winning bid from the last.
The Cheltenham Charity Race victor really picked up well for Condon on the run-in and he got up to score by a length. There were three lengths back to Sir Ector in third.
"He got hampered and stuck on the inside coming down the hill. He's won four on the bounce for us so we'll find another one for him. He'll keep going," stated Elliott.
Condon meanwhile remarked: "He won over course and distance for Barry (Geraghty) last year. He's a smashing horse who can go on to better things."
The Stewards interviewed D.R. Fox, rider of Idlewild (GB), unplaced, trained by Mark Michael McNiff, concerning his riding in the latter stages of this race, where it appeared he eased his mount down approaching the finishing line, thereby losing 5th place.
Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that his mount had made the running, and got tired after jumping the last and admitted he eased him heavily in the closing stages.
Having viewed the recording and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion D.R. Fox was in breach of Rule 212 in that he failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures to obtain his best possible placing, and having taken his record into account, they severely cautioned him.
(MG & EM)
