Barbizon makes winning start over hurdles Barbizon made a bright start over hurdles when prominent throughout under Danny Gilligan to take the Bar One Racing Play Casino 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle at Navan. The son of King Of Change won twice on the Flat for John Murphy this year earning a rating of 101 and put in a decent round of jumping here in what was a quite slowly run affair. The Gordon Elliott-trained 13/8 favourite travelled best in front approaching the final flight and was just pushed out to assert on the run-in to score by four and a quarter lengths. Ben Hur kept on into second with the winner’s stablemate Wackestone a further two and a quarter lengths back in third. Elliott said, “He jumped brilliant. We were a bit worried about his jumping at home - he was novicey, to be honest. That's why Jack went for the other horse, he had the pick of the two of them. "It was a good performance and delighted with him. I think on better ground he will be even better. "He's a nice horse and he was a highly rated horse (on the Flat), and he wasn't cheap. "Fairyhouse might come a bit quick, so Leopardstown at Christmas more than likely." Quotes by Michael Graham
