Conti in control in Racing Post Kala Conti found plenty to repel her challengers and make all in the Grade 2 Racing Post Chase at Down Royal. The race looked like a match between the Gordon Elliott-trained pair on paper, after the withdrawal of Koktail Divin, but there were four with with a shout between the final two fences which were omitted. It boiled down to a battle between the stablemates late on and Kala Conti wasn’t for passing, under Danny Gilligan, as she recorded a two-length win over Jacob’s Ladder. The 5/6 favourite was recording her third win at this level, having landed a novice chase at Cork last December and a juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown back in December 2023. Elliott said: "Jack had the choice of the two of them and went for the other lad (Jacob's Ladder). He thought he worked well during the week. "I'd say the other lad took a bit of a blow and looked a bit bigger walking around the ring. "Danny was clever on the one in front and got the fractions right. "She looked like she was just getting into the race in Aintree when she fell three out. "A different filly on good ground. "I'd imagine she will go down the mares' route. "I think he (Jacob's Ladder) could be more of a handicapper." (Quotes by Michael Graham)
