Duffle does the job in style on debut

The Gordon Elliott-trained Duffle Coat looked a smart prospect when making a winning debut in the opening Sanctuary Synthetics 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown this afternoon.

The Alhebayeb gelding was the only horse in the field with no Flat experience but ran out a cosy winner despite being very easy to back, returned 16/1 having been 4/1 in the morning.

Keith Donoghue held the grey up towards the back of the field in the two-miler and he made up ground stylishly turning for home.

He was asked to hit the front before the final flight and powered clear on the run-in for a six-length success over Crassus

“He's a brother to a good horse (Starchitect) but he's never even been on grass and that's the first time he's ever worked properly,” said Elliott.

“We got a few of them in a bit of a package deal. He was just hacking away, he wasn't showing us much so we said we'd run him just to see where we were and to start him off.

“He looked good, he travelled into it well. He has to be a smart horse because he has nothing done.

“Keith said he'll improve a stone from it, he said he was very green.”