Time To Work over turns the 'jolly'

Gordon Elliott has a good record in the Winner Alright Hurdle, and the Co Meath handler, recorded his third success in the last four runnings of the race, as Time To Work scored in convincing fashion under Davy Russell. The five-year-old son of Hurricane Run won his maiden hurdle at Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day, but he had been disappointing on his three runs since. Running on quick ground for the first time since 2011, he was held up for much of the race and made slight mistakes at five and four out. He made headway into second before the third last, hitting the front before the last and keeping on well on the run-in to score by an easy ten lengths. Dylan Ross was sent off the 4/7 favourite under Davy Condon for Noel Meade, but he finished a disappointing second. Gordon Elliott said afterwards: “He will go for a handicap at Galway next.” Davy Russell was full of praise for the Downpatrick ground staff and he said: “The ground staff have to be complimented today. What a job they have done. You’d imagine it would be difficult to water here but they got it spot on and its beautiful ground.” Additional reporting by Michael Graham