The Wallpark and Jack Kennedy win the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle © Photo Healy Racing
The Wallpark maintained his perfect record since joining trainer Gordon Elliott when overcoming some sloppy jumping to run out a game winner of the Seamus Mulvaney Bookmaker Novice Hurdle at Listowel.
With three non-runners. only four went to post for this race, with the Willie Mullins trained Bialystok sent off 8-11f. However, with that latter horse failing to give his running, the contest effectively concerned just two. Broomfield Bijou made most of the running under Keith Donoghue, jumping exceptionally well out in front. Her quick hurdling had second placed The Wallpark in trouble down the back straight, with that one losing ground following a couple of novicey jumps.
However, to his credit, the Gordon Elliott trained gelding responded to Jack Kennedy, finding more to challenge and pass Broomfield Bijou entering the straight. Taken to the stands rail after the last, the five-year-old kept on well to record a hard fought three length win.
Gordon Elliott said: “I’d say he wants further and we had him in a hurdle later in the week but we thought with the rain we’d run him (today).
“He jumped a bit a novicey today but the further he went the better he got. He’s a tough horse and I’d say he wants two and a half.
“He was good and tough to do what he did there. He’ll be a chaser in time.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
