Bondage eases to ninth career success The well-backed Bondage ran out an easy winner of the Laurels Bar Hurdle for trainer Gordon Elliott with Declan Lavery in the saddle. The six-year-old was 5/2 last night with Paddy Powers, opening on track at 9/4 before being strongly supported, going off the 15/8 clear favourite. The white-faced son of Whipper impressively disposed of Gold Bullet at Down Royal a week ago today and he repeated the dose this evening, hitting the front turning for home, asserting on the run to the last and soon going clear to win easily by eight lengths. Midnight Oil, who drifted from 11/4 last night to 10/3 at the off, finished second under Ruby Walsh for Willie Mullins while last year’s winner Won In The Dark could only manage a disappointing fifth. Declan Lavery, who was recording his fifth win of the new season, said afterwards: "He was winging the hurdles and was really enjoying it. "We went very steady but he quickened up from the second last and he would have went on again if another horse had challenged him. "I had one ride for Gordon before as an amateur but this is my first for him as a professional." The Bodhran Makers Syndicate owned gelding was recording his ninth career success today. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
