Rainbow Trail and Sam Ewing © Photo Healy Racing
The Gordon Elliott trained Rainbow Trail made a winning debut over fences when landing the Join Gowran Park Racing Club Beginners Chase at the County Kilkenny track.
Disputing from the off alongside 8/13f Encanto Bruno the six-year-old had his task eased significantly when the latter was pulled up quickly after jumping four out.
Pushed along entering the straight, Rainbow Trail was challenged by stablemate Shajak on the approach to three out.
A mistake by the latter at the penultimate fence handed the initiative back to Rainbow Trail who still held a slight advantage at that point.
Also Shajak tried hard to get back into the race, Rainbow Trail kept on to win by one-and-a-half lengths.
Gordon Elliott said: "He is only just ready to start off and hadn't done a piece of work but I thought I'd let him tip around here. Obviously the race cut up but there is loads of improvement in him.
"He is not a big massive horse and will be more of a handicapper than a graded horse."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
