Ella off the mark over timber

Law Ella got on top up the hill to run out a cosy winner of the opening Cosy Roof Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained mare went to post an 11/10 favourite in the extended two-mile-five contest having finished runner-up on her latest outing at Punchestown in February.

Keith Donoghue tracked the leaders on the Yeats mare and she made ground up going to the second last flight.

Despite a stumble on landing there she picked off Smooth Player on the run-in and was nicely on top in the closing stages as she posted a four-and-a-half length win.

Cromwell said: "When she was second in the Grade 2 (mares) bumper in Aintree last year, I didn't think she would still be a maiden a year later.

"That's Irish racing, it just shows you what you are up against all the time.

"She did (pick up well after the mistake at the last), hopefully she can kick on from here.

"I'm not sure where we will go, I'm just happy to get that done. She could be a candidate for Punchestown."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)