Gordon Elliott made it a first and last race double at Downpatrick when Blue Empyrean benefitted from a typically strong and assured Nina Carberry drive to win the Having The Best Time Ever (Ladies Pro/Am) INH Flat Race. Lake Malawi took the opener under Luke Dempsey for the Cullentra House handler, and in the two and a quarter mile bumper Blue Empyrean headed the market from Sweet Shirleen

Things worked out the same on the track with Blue Empyrean proving stronger in the closing stages for a half length verdict over Sweet Shirleen.

The placed horses, Benny In Milan and Sunday Central were just a length and a half and a length behind.

Elliott said: "Two and a half miles over jumps would be more for him. He's slow and stays galloping. Nina gave him a great ride."

On his record here he commented: "It's lucky. The people up the north are great racing people and they have always supported me so it's nice to keep coming to Downpatrick."

Blue Empyrean's owner is John Taylor from Banbridge, County Down and he is a solicitor in Armagh.

(MG & EM)