Zefiro Dodville and Jordan Gainford jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
Down Royal's week-delayed high-profile fixture began with the chaotic Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle today which was won by Gordon Elliott's Zefiro Dodville (33/1 — 12s), with stablemate Better Days Ahead (8/15f) falling.
Waterlogging delayed the fixture — which includes tomorrow's first Grade 1 race of the season the Ladbrokes Champion Chase, with today's curtain-raiser featuring Cheltenham Bumper also-ran Better Days Ahead.
Travelling strongly, the odds-on favourite fell at the third-last, leaving The Busy Fool with a clear advantage before blundering at the next.
Zefiro Dodville was giving chase in second when also he erred at that obstacle but, under jockey Jordan Gainford, battled well to lead at the last and beat The Busy Fool by two and a half lengths.
Elliott had mixed emotions and reported “Better Days Ahead was travelling very well. He jumped pretty well up to that but, as long as he is okay, that is the most important thing. I couldn't really see it, I had the sun in my eyes."
Regarding winner Zefiro Dodville, he added "he was disappointing the last day. I'd say the race just fell in his lap there today.
"He will come on from that - he is a good, big stayer."
Quotes from Michael Graham
