THERE were a few equestrian-related winners on the racecourse over the immediate post-Christmas period with the opening two and a half-mile maiden hurdle at Down Royal’s Boxing Day meeting going to the once previously-raced Sept Etoiles.

The first of 18 winners over the same time frame for trainer Gordon Elliott and the first of five for jockey Sam Ewing, the 2021 French-bred gelding is owned by Pat Sloan whose colours were also carried to victory on the same day in the opening two-mile novices’ hurdle at Market Rasen by the Nicky Richards-trained, Danny McMenamin-ridden Japetus.