Elliott top trainer

Elliott top trainer

19 October 2016

GORDON Elliott celebrated being named the top trainer at Downpatrick for 2016 with another two successes at the track’s final meeting of the year on Friday afternoon.

The Meath handler saddled odds-on favourite Ballela Boy to land the maiden hurdle in good style under David Mullins and capped another decent day out at Downpatrick when teaming up with the indomitable Nina Carberry to land yet another bumper winner in the shape of Dounikos.

Both of Elliott’s winners are owned by the powerful Gigginstown House stud and it seems likely he will have more of Michael O’Leary’s horses in his care after the Ryanair magnet announced he was severing his relation with champion trainer Willie Mullins recently.

Ballela Boy certainly caught the eye with a convincing win from Noel Meade’s Brightest Flame with successful jockey Mullins sitting motionless before easing to the front to win by three and a half lengths.

“He’s definitely a chaser in the making and anything he does this year will be a bonus,” Elliott said later in the winner’s enclosure.

Meade was quick to praise new stable jockey Sean Flanagan after the pair had combined to win the opening race of the day with Mahler Ten in the handicap hurdle.

“Paul Carberry spoke very highly of Sean as one of the most under-rated jockeys in the weigh-room. He’s got a great pair of hands and things have started off well,” he said.

Meath trainer Des McDonogh was quietly confident of a good showing from Shek O Lad in the handicap hurdle following a decent effort last time out at Ballinrobe and so it proved as jockey Brien Kane got the better of Keith Donoghue and Canny Tom in a duel to the line from the final flight.

“I can’t remember the last time I had a winner here,” remarked McDonogh in the unsaddling enclosure.

Teacher’s Pet earned a second track success at Downpatrick when winning the Talk To Us About Sponsorship Handicap Hurdle for top owner JP McManus and Kildare trainer Philip Dempsey.

Favourite backers had a glimmer of hope as Donagh Meyler and Tb Broke Her made ground up the home straight but Luke Dempsey’s mount did just enough to hold on by a length with Kevin Sexton and Coldstonesober three parts of a length back in third.

Neil McKnight’s Better Back Bob was a shock 33/1 winner of the beginners’ chase. Successful jockey Robbie Colgan has had a lean time of late and was delighted to finally ride a winner after a wait of nearly five months.

Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead saddled runner-up Gone Platimum with another 33/1 chance, Mullinavat a length back in third.

There were a few whispers on track for Midnight Theatre, winner of a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick back in March, and those who follow previous track form were rewarded when Gavin Cromwell’s raider prevailed in the handicap chase under jockey Keith Donoghue.

The 8/1 shot saw out the two miles five furlongs trip in good style, staying on from the final fence to have three and a quarter lengths in hand of Andrew Ring on Capture The Drama with Philip Rothwell’s Taboo taking third under John Fitzpatrick.

Nina Carberry scored yet another Downpatrick bumper winner with 10/11 favourite Dounikos showing a good turn of foot at the business end of the race to give supporters plenty to cheer at the end of the day.

The Gigginstown House Stud runner had over eight lengths in hand of runner-up Bridge Native in the hands of Patrick Mullins with Nerual taking third place for Wexford trainer Liz Doyle.