Smith makes most of his opportunity aboard Raydamann Gordon Elliott's Raydamann kicked right away from his rivals for a decisive victory in the Yeats Irish Whickey Claiming Hurdle at Sligo. This was a welcome return to form for the Sea The Stars gelding who improved to lead narrowly three out for James Smith. He had Torquay Road for company and readily asserted over that rival once he cleared the next obstacle. He shot clear before the last as Torquay Road dropped to third behind Eyeeye, and the race was over once he safely negotiated the final obstacle. Smith merely nudged him along in the closing stages to win by eight lengths at 10/3 from Eyeeye (33/1). Rich Belief came through for third, another two lengths away, at 5/2. Smith said: "Gordon said to be handy, in the first three or four. He winged three out and I didn't want to take him back at that stage, so I let him on and he did it easily. "He has good form on the Flat and some good form over hurdles too. "The ground is as they're giving it, just on the easy side of good. "I've been just under the 15-winner mark for the last couple of seasons, so this series of races is good for the likes of me and hopefully I can make the most of it." Two unplaced horses were claimed. Fourth home Woodstream Lad was trained by Co Kerry trainer David O'Sullivan for 8,000 euro, while fifth-placed Phoenix Arizona was claimed by Co Mayo handler John J Cullen for 5,000 euro. Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
