Elliott & Fogarty win opener with 20/1 shot

Zanjabeel caused a 20/1 upset to win the opening Coral.ie Best Price 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown today, improving on his unseated-rider blemish on hurdling debut to score for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Mikey Fogarty.

The son of Aussie Rules unshipped Fogarty at the third flight on debut at Gowran on October 1 but was much more professional today, rallying on the run-in, having been headed after the last, to score a length win over Zig Zag

Afterwards Elliott revealed “that was a bit unexpected. He’s still a maiden on the Flat and could go to the all-weather. I wouldn’t say he is a real winter ground horse but he should win plenty of races.”

Zanjabeel had previously failed to win in four flat starts for Simon Crisford and was today giving Fogarty his first winner as a professional jockey for Gold Cup winning trainer Elliott.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee