Down Royal drama sees Elliott pair exit at the last

There was a dramatic start to the action at Down Royal, as Gordon Elliott’s pair of Theflyingking and Kazansky both came down at the final flight, to leave the race at the mercy of Henry de Bromhead’s Some Song.

Jack Kennedy aboard 1-3 favourite Theflyingking looked to have shaken off his stablemate on the run to the last but stepped at the final obstacle, bringing down the pursuing Kazansky who was at least booked for second.

That left De Bromhead’s 7-2 second-favourite to take advantage and make a winning hurdling debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle that Elliott had won nine times in the last 10 years.

De Bromhead said: “We were fortunate winners, obviously, but he’s a nice horse.

“Darragh (O’Keeffe) said he just got a bit tired after he jumped the third-last and they just quickened away from him.

“Delighted for (owner) Mike Roden, it’s his first winner and he is one of the owners of the racecourse.

“We said we would come up and give him a run, we didn’t think we would be winning, but there you go – happy days, we are delighted!”

When asked if he could roll on to Navan for the Grade Three Monksfield Novice Hurdle, he added: “We’ll see, we will enjoy today definitely.

“The plan was to find a horse that could hopefully win up here, one day not on the first day! We’ll see how we go after that.”

There was a sting in the tail for jockey Sam Ewing however, receiving a one-day ban for remounting Kazansky after being brought down.

De Bromhead also claimed the Grade Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle with Full Of Life.

However, usual service for Elliott at the Lisburn venue was soon resumed when he won the feature Listed bottlegreen Hurdle for the fifth straight year with 1-4 favourite Casheldale Lad.

He joins the likes of Irish Point and Brighterdaysahead to win this race in recent years and was cut to 12-1 by Paddy Power for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

Elliott is keeping options open and said: “He is (going the right way) and Jack (Kennedy) said he has actually gone so laid-back from a horse that was very keen.

“He said he won with plenty in hand and was actually idling in front. He enjoyed himself, but he wasn’t doing a whole lot in front – he was very idle.

“We’ll get him home and see how he is and we’ll make our mind up. He has entries in them all (including the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown) and we’ll see what we do.”

The Cullentra House handler ended up with four winners on the day and saw his Grade One-winning novice hurdler Romeo Coolio make a successful start to life over the larger obstacles, albeit in a BetVictor Beginners Chase without plenty of fences due to low sun.

Paddy Power make him an 8-1 chance for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival and Elliott said: “It couldn’t have been more straightforward.

“Jack said he’s one of those horses that you would love to have the last three fences in, he was that good. Jack said he was very good.

“I thought it was a good performance, he couldn’t have done any more than he did so we are absolutely delighted.

“I imagine we will probably head for the Drinmore at Fairyhouse now. We’ll enjoy today and see what happens. You have the Drinmore and you have Christmas, we’ll talk to the lads (owners KTDA Racing) and see what they want to do. They are great supporters of Cullentra.”