Early Gains for professional jockey

Jordan Gainford made a winning start to his new career as a professional jockey at Navan today as he steered 25/1 (from 33s) outsider Fierami to win the Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle for leading trainer Gordon Elliott.

Gainford, from Kiltealy, Co Wexford, had previously ridden 11 point-to-point winners and today registered his fifth racecourse winner as he made much of the running on Fierami, previously unsuccessful in nine lifetime efforts, as the pair beat runner-up Westy Fox by a length and a half.

Trainer Elliott, earlier successful with Coko Beach and Frontal Assault later reported “it's great for Jordan as that's his first ride as a professional. He's coming to me now three days a week and he's a lad we're going to get plenty of use out of. He's a good rider.

“He (Fierami) looked like he was well handicapped. It was a bit sharp for him the last day he ran.”

Quotes from Gary Carson