Idlewild wins easily under Fox for McNiff

The Mark McNiff trained Idlewild made all as he came home a comfortable winner of the opener at Downpatrick this afternoon, the Lazy Sunday Maiden Hurdle.

The four-year-old son of Papal Bull ran a cracker on his hurdling debut at Sligo last month, finishing second to subsequent Galway Festival winner McKinley.

He then disappointed on his next start at Ballinrobe and he was sent off a 7/2 chance to make it third time luck today.

Ridden by Derek Fox he made every inch of the running, shaking off the challenge of That’s A Fact after the second last, keeping on well from there to score easily by ten lengths.

That’s A Fact had to settle for second under Davy Russell at 7/1 while the 11/4 joint-favourite Cebuano was a further four lengths back in third under Andrew McNamara for Mick Halford. Pay No Heed was the other joint-favourite (backed from 10/3 on-course) and he finished fourth under Mark Walsh for Ted Walsh.

Derek Fox said afterwards: "It is soft ground all over, sloppy ground. He took a good hold but he travelled very well and finished well."

Mark McNiff added: "Derek said he just had a bit of a wobble crossing the line but he's not lame (dismounted after the line). He ran on his head early on. The ground was wild holding in Ballinrobe and we probably should have taken him out."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham