Kennedy picks correctly as Ebasari scores for Elliott

Gordon Elliott appeared to hold all the aces in the opening Downpatrick Racecourse Family Day Hurdle and so it proved as Ebasari scored in decisive fashion.

Jack Kennedy ’s mount went off a 6/5 shot but wasn’t favourite as stablemate Douglas Dc was a shade shorter at 11/10.

I Don’t Get It adopted his customary front-running tactics but was headed at the last by Ebasari who quickly took control on the run-in.

The son of Lope De Vega, a maiden hurdle winner on testing ground at Cork earlier this year, eventually scored by six-and-a-half lengths with the pace-setter just holding off the disappointing Douglas Dc for the runner-up spot.

Elliott said, "Jack is usually not far wrong. We were a bit worried about fitness. Jack went for this lad, he probably had the better form in the book.

"If you go back and have a look at it (Boodles), it wasn't that disappointing, he never got into the race. It was a very, very messy race. It was obviously disappointing on the day, but the race didn't work out.

"He's a nice horse and we'll have a bit of fun with him. We'll mix and match on the Flat and over jumps with him. He looks like he is well handicapped on the Flat.

"He travelled today like he did in Cork the first day with Davy Russell, so he's a nice horse.

"Galway was originally where I was going to go, but this race came along and we had to take our chance. Whether Galway comes a bit soon, I don't know. I'll have a talk with the lads and see what they think.

"The owners are good Summerhill people, you can't beat them! They were all watching Summerhill last night playing football.

"Douglas Dc ran a good race, Jordan said he didn't handle the track."

Quotes by Michael Graham