GORDON Elliott, who sent out a six-timer on the afternoon, enjoyed a double at Down Royal. Sept Etoiles proved too strong for market leader Court Compliance when landing the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Sent off 11/2, the four-year-old tracked the leaders under Sam Ewing before coming through to challenge the odds-on jolly at the penultimate flight. Leading on the approach to the last, the gelding went on to score by a length and a quarter for the Sloan family.

Ewing said: “We went a good gallop and he learned a lot the first day. He came home really well and hit the line hard, and did that again today. He’s open to a lot of improvement off that again - jumped and travelled well, and he is very honest as well which is a big help. He stepped up and I think he’s a nice horse, going forward.”

Slanagaibhgoleir completed the Elliott brace when staying on best to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase. Prominent throughout under Jordan Gainford, the 9/1 chance headed Supreme Jet after three out.

Taking control on the run to two out, the J.P. McManus-owned gelding found plenty for pressure, keeping on to beat Birmingham Alabama by three and three-quarter lengths.

Gainford said: “He stepped up today and it is great to get his head in front. He has been a little bit frustrating, so it is nice for him to do that. He took to the fences very well. He jumped very well today on the whole.”

Keeping it simple

Los Blanco finished well to win the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead. The 5/4 favourite led after two out and kept on well on the run-in to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Jockey Paddy O’Brien, in the Robcour colours, said: “Henry was very straightforward - he said just to keep it simple and ride an ordinary race on him, and see how it panned out. I was a bit to the pin of my collar the whole way around to be honest.

“I just thought I’d sit and give him a chance - thankfully, it worked. He picked them off fairly easily and was a good, strong winner at the line. I can’t thank my agent Garry Cribbin enough and everyone who is supporting me. Thoughts and prayers for Paul Kavanagh’s family today.”

BOSTON Bobby sprang a 16/1 surprise in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for Philip Rothwell and Conor Clarke. The gelding raced in rear and made progress on the outer before the third last flight.

He got on terms with Sunwalk approaching the next and was stronger than that rival in winning by half a length for owner Tadhg Moynihan.

Clarke said: “They went a right good gallop and Philip was adamant I drop in and find the best of the ground. He warmed to it very well and got into it very well. Jumped for fun and put it to bed fairly easily.

“Running on bad ground doesn’t really suit him, got through it there today. I’m based full-time with Emmet Mullins and in John Ryan’s and Tony Martin’s as well. I’m getting into places as much as I can.”

Fresh tactics

I A Connect justified 3/1 favouritism in the Bar 1 Betting Handicap Chase. Ian Donoghue’s charge poured it on between the final two fences and kept on well in the closing stages to score by four-and-a-half-length success for owner Brian Quail.

Jockey Caragh Monaghan said: “He jumped for fun really and did it well.

“I thought we were going a little bit quick down the back and I didn’t want to give him too much of a breather because of the way they quicken up down the hill down here.

“He actually finished out quite well and he did it well in the end. I rode him in Navan and Fairyhouse, and we tried this new tactic of jumping off wide, give him a lot of air and it worked out grand.”

THE admirable Its On The Line once again found plenty for a strong drive when returning to winning ways in the Bar 1 Betting Hunters Chase.

Off the bridle for much of the contest, the J.P. McManus-owned 16/5 chance came through to lead under Derek O’Connor after the bypassed second-last fence. Keeping on well in the straight, the Emmet Mullins-trained gelding prevailed by a length from Willitgoahead.

O’Connor said: “He does that all the time, he keeps finding. He knows how to win which is very important in a racehorse, a great advantage over your rivals. He tries and he puts it on the line all the time.

“Absolutely (adds to his longevity) and he is adding a little bit to mine as well! He will have a run in a point-to-point and then Cheltenham, and all that (Punchestown) later in the spring.”

Off the mark

Having finished runner-up on both previous career starts, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Boycetown opened his account in style when powering clear to land the concluding Bar 1 Betting (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Prominent throughout under Eoin Staples, the 6/4 favourite headed leader Moon Sky entering the home straight before quickly opening up a gap. Stretching clear from over a furlong out, the Parklodge Developments Limited-owned grey went right away to score by 18 lengths.

Staples said: “It felt it (impressive) too. We fancied him and he showed that today, he won very snug. I was very happy the whole way.

“We didn’t go mad in front and I was delighted where I was, but we sprinted down the hill and he showed a great turn of foot.”