Twigg keeps winning run going over timber

Gordon Elliott ’s Lizzie Twigg made it three from three over timber with a convincing success in the opening Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle at Galway this afternoon.

Jack Kennedy gave the 5/2 shot a confident ride in the two-mile Listed contest as he tucked in behind the leaders before making ground up over the second last.

The daughter of Poet’s Word joined Fastnet Crystal over the final flight and went on from that rival in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-half length success.

Lizzie Twigg was maintaining her unbeaten record over jumps, having also scored at Punchestown and Roscommon.

"She is a nice mare and to be fair, she should be unbeaten as I became greedy at the end of last season and ran her back quickly in the Punchestown bumper, where she was flat,” said Elliott.

"She has been showing us all the right things and I don't think she wants real winter ground, and is a spring filly. She is one for the festivals and I like her.

"I've tried to sell her after every run but couldn't, for whatever reason. I nearly had her sold to America recently but thankfully she wasn't and she could be a right one for the graded novice at Down Royal in November."

Regarding his own unusual racing silks, he added:- "I love hunting with the Ward Union, hence the stag's head, and I actually had them registered initially in Australia.

"You can't register a stag's head or anything similar in Ireland or the UK, but I was a registered owner in Australia, so brought them back.

“The horse I had in Australia didn't work out to be any good, but I ended up with the colours.""

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)