Monbeg Notorious (Denis O'Regan, nearside) seen here jumping with Moonshine Bay and Robbie Power© Photo Healy Racing
After his win with Zambezi Fix at Wexford earlier, Gordon Elliott saddled a one two in the Racing TV Chase at Down Royal. Monbeg Notorious led home Cullentra House stable companion Jury Duty in the stamina sapping assignment.
Denis O’Regan excelled from the front here in the extended three mile two contest, and though the 7/2 scorer edged left on the run-in, the pursuers were never quite going to reach the victor.
Elliott’s Jury Duty (6/5 favourite) got to within two and a half lengths as outsider Ned Stark ran a huge race on debut for the Sarah Dawson yard. He ended up a length and a half back in third.
Monbeg Notorious had a golden spell at the end of 2017 and the start of 2018, which included wins in the Thyestes at Gowran and the Ten Up at Navan.
The Milan gelding had been without success since
"He jumped great and Denis (O'Regan) gave him a good ride and dictated from the front," said Elliott.
"He was coming back to a bit of life at home. His last run in the Leinster National had been better than he was running.
"They are all kind of old-timers, one beating the other.
"Sean (Flanagan) said Jury Duty just hated that ground. It's just so hard to place those horses with that sort of a rating."
On racing closing down in Britain and the implications for Ireland, he said: "I'm sure what everyone does is going to be right for everyone.
"Hopefully we can all get over it and keep kicking on and keep our heads up.
"I think there is no problem here today. Everyone is doing everything right. Once we keep racing that is all we want."
(MG & EM)
