Spinola Bay takes advantage of lowly mark on handicap debut Spinola Bay continued Gordon Elliott’s good run of form when making a winning start to life in handicaps by taking the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle at Navan. The 13/2 shot made headway between horses to lead approaching the final flight but did well to survive a mistake at the last before staying on strongly on the run-in. Sam Ewing’s mount had two and a half lengths to spare over Theflyingbee at the line with the front-running Mon Sheriffe finding no extra in the closing stages a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third. Serienmond was heavily backed with overnight quotes of 7/1 cut to 7/4 favourite by the off, but he never got in a blow, eventually finishing ninth. Elliott said, “He travelled well, he made a couple of mistakes. "We thought he was well enough handicapped, but he just had disappointed us. I'd say he was a weak horse and just took a bit of time. "I was under no pressure to run him off David (L'Estrange, owner) and we just gave him all the time - there was nothing wrong with the horse, he was just big and weak. "Delighted and great for David, he's a big supporter of Cullentra. Thankfully, it worked out well today. Hopefully, he will be able to defy a penalty." Quotes by Michael Graham
