Conquering Cromwell wins Downpatrick opener Trainer Gavin Cromwell continued his fantastic recent form as his A Place Apart landed a gamble to win the opening Molson Coors Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick today. Gordon Elliott's former farrier has gained big race success at Grade 1 level with Jer's Girl and Welsh National glory with Raz De Maree in recent times and on Saturday landed the prestigious Group 2 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, which was the only Irish trainer winner on Arc weekend at Longchamp. For good measure Cromwell returned to bag a double at Cork on Wednesday and today struck with A Place Apart which was today gaining a first success at the 23rd time. The gelding was backed from 10/1 this morning in to 9/2 at the off and ridden by Ger Fox, the gelding stayed on well on the run-in to score a three parts of a length win over Free Ranger. Cromwell later admitted "he eventually won a race! We went for a bit of a touch as a three-year-old in Limerick and he didn't quite get home and I thought he would have won races by now. "I'm delighted for the owner, Turlough Blessing, who is from Dublin and who is a nephew of Colm O'Rourke." Quotes from Michael Graham
