Eshtiaal helps under pressure punters Favourite backers finally got a turn in Ballinrobe's fifth, the Audi Ballina Handicap Hurdle when Eshtiaal (11/8) justified the confidence of those that played at better odds this morning when comprehensively prevailing under Bryan Cooper. Gordon Elliott's charge has been threatening for a while now, to add to his two victories on the level cross-channel, when under the care of Brian Meehan, and in the colours of his breeder, Hamdan Al Maktoum. In this two and a half miler Eshtiaal got the better of Desert Roe by no less than nine and a half lengths. The gambled-on Happy As Larry (9/2 into 3/1) could manage no better than ninth place. Elliott remarked: "He deserved that and he is in again at a few places over the weekend. He stays further than that and I still think there is a good race on the flat in him. He liked that good ground." J.J. Burke, rider of Clondaw Dude trained by Michael J. McDonagh, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got tired and was pulled up. (DM & EM)
