Galway Hurdle-winner scores at Cork Last year’s Galway Hurdle-winner Ndaawi (6/4) resumed winning ways in the Bar 1 Betting Hurdle at Cork today, scoring for owners Easyfix, trainer Gordon Elliott and 5lb claimer Josh Williamson. Successful in last July’s Galway showpiece race after being promoted in the stewards’ room, Ndaawi had recently finished unplaced in Cheltenham’s County Hurdle and today renewed an old rivalry with Melbourne Cup-regular Absurde. While Absurde raced keenly, prominently-ridden Ndaawi improved to lead at the second-last flight and held on to beat his principal rival by 3.25 lengths. Elliott’s assistant Ian ‘Busty’ Amond reported “a race like that probably suits him better than a handicap nowadays and Josh gave him a good ride, kept it simple and was in the right place. He kicked at the right time, won well and the 5lb (claim) off his back helped him as well. “I’d imagine he’ll go back for the Galway Hurdle again and he’ll also run on the Flat during the summer. There should be a good day with him on the Flat. “He is a right horse for the lads (Earls family, with Easyfix) as well. They are good owners who’ve always had a horse with Gordon so it is nice to get another winner for them.”
