Staffordshire Knot wins Down Royal's opener Caldwell Construction Ltd's recent bumper winner Staffordshire Knot (8/15f) was a wide-margin winner of Down Royal's opening Molson Coors Beverage Company Maiden Hurdle today, scoring on a poignant day for Gordon Elliott's yard. The six year old had chased home subsequent Grade 1 winner Readin Tommy Wrong on debut at Cork in November and having won his Fairyhouse bumper on New Year's Day, today scored easily by 21 lengths, despite blundering at the last, from Grooveykindoflove. Successful jockey Jack Kennedy wore a black armband in memory of Aidan Walsh, husband of one of Elliott's owners Karen Walsh, whose funeral takes place today. Regarding Staffordshire Knot, Kennedy said “he's a bit green, but I'd say he would be better in a better race. It was a nice performance and hopefully can progress. "He was running around a bit at the last and was left on his own but it was just a little bit of greenness. The ground is very dead, so it is testing. He went away through it and did it well." Quotes from Michael Graham
