PROFILE SYSTEMS

CHAMPION NOVICE

HURDLE (GRADE 1)

JUST as the dust was settling on the Champion Hurdle there was further drama in the offing but this time Gordon Elliott came out on top as a back to form Dortmund Park returned to the considerable promise that he showed during the depths of the winter.

In another race where Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott supplied eight of the nine runners the complexion of the race changed dramatically at the second last. The Jack Kennedy-ridden Dortmund Park (16/1) was firmly in contention in the front rank at this point but on his inside the pace setting Debuchet crashed out and his fall took both Scarpeta and Getabird out of the race.

STAMINA

After all this the Gigginstown-owned Dortmund Park, who was running for the first time since his eighth in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, set sail for home. There was a point before the last flight when it seemed as though the staying on Whiskey Sour might come and collar the leader.

However, Dortmund Park has stamina in abundance and he showed that in the closing stages by producing a big jump at the last before galloping on well to score by 10 lengths. Burrows Saint finished third with another Mullins runner, Real Steel, securing fourth.

“He looked a very nice horse when he was bought and he looked a very good novice when he won at Thurles in January,” observed Elliott. “Things haven’t really worked out for him since but he’s shown there that he is a good horse and he’s one that should make up into a lovely novice chaser next season.

“I’m delighted for Jack too, no more than myself he’s had an up and down week.”

Before long thoughts turned to Samcro and the trainer reflected: “Thank god he’s okay and Jack (Kennedy) is okay.

“Once they came back in one piece that’s the main thing. Up to the time of the third last I couldn’t have been happier with how he was travelling and jumping.

“It’s too early to talk about where he will go next season, he seems okay and hopefully he’ll be fine in the morning”.

Elliott’s title challenge was once again scuppered in the last week of the season but he was keen to pay tribute to his championship rival.

“Willie is just a great man and this week has shown it. We’ve had a great season and we’ll give it another go when it all starts again on Monday,” concluded Elliott.