Colin McBratney completed an opening races double at Downpatrick today when his Bachelor Lad under Eddie O’Connell, landed the three runner Blue Ridge Rosebank Novice Hurdle.

Bachelor Lad made all and eventually saw off the challenge of Bold Apache with 3/10 favourite Atlanta Falcon jumping badly to the left throughout and was beaten before the straight.

Afterwards McBratney, successful with Nodelay in the opener, said “there must have been something amiss with Bachelor Lad last time out and he’ll either go handicapping now or be sent chasing - that’s my second ever double.”

Thomas Weekes