Themanintheboots gives Elliott opening race double at Navan Having landed the first race on the card, trainer Gordon Elliott quickly doubled up as Themanintheboots made virtually all under James Smith to easily win the Lisadell Equine Hospital 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle at Navan. Fitted with first-time cheekpieces, the Kelly Family Syndicate owned 10/1 chance was always to the fore under Smith. Shaking off main challenger Clonbury Bridge after the penultimate flight, the seven-year-old asserted on the run to the last, keeping on strongly to score by seven lengths. Gordon Elliott said: "The owners are with me a long time and we had a meeting last Monday and we said this was going to be his last run. We entered him in an online sale in two weeks' time. He has been a bit hot and cold. "We said we would try blinkers on him once before we sell him, and look what happened. Travelled lovely and jumped great. "Absolutely delighted for them. He did (show a bit more in Ayr), but that was good today and I'm delighted he won a good pot. "I think he will have to stay for another while!" Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
