GORDON Elliott registered a double at Bellewstown on Thursday evening with Boot Camp landing the featured Bar One Racing Mullacurry Cup. The consistent Gigginstown gelding was sent to post an 8/1 shot for his first start in handicap company over hurdles and was prominent throughout under Davy Russell.

He chased down Runyon Rattler on the run-in, after that rival had kicked for home three out, and powered away in the closing stages for a five-and-a-half length success in the €20,000 contest.

“He stuck at it well. His jumping wasn’t great late on in Roscommon but it was good today and all that experience stood to him,” said Russell.

Half an hour later The Big Lense completed the brace for Elliott when opening his account over timber in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Maiden Hurdle.

The even-money favourite was pushed along to close going to the third last by Barry Geraghty and stayed on to lead before the final flight before posting a four-and-a-half length success in the colours of JP McManus.

Racing manager Frank Berry said afterwards: “That was grand and he jumped away well. It might not have been the strongest race but he got the job done.

“Barry said the track was probably sharp enough for him but he had that bit of experience. It’s nice to get his head in front as he had been a bit disappointing.

“We’ll probably find a little handicap for him. He’s big enough, and won a point-to-point, so he could go chasing sooner rather than later.”

FINE FORM

John McConnell’s string continue in fine form and Pearl Of The West proved too strong for hotpot Pakora in the Racing Post Mares Hurdle.

The 8/1 shot made all and kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a 10-length success over the 1/5 favourite, who was later found to be lame.

“I’m surprised as all the talk was about the other horse,” said McConnell.

“She’s a decent filly and she came up against a well-handicapped horse, I thought, in Perth.

“That was the best exhibition of jumping she has put in. That’s the thing about four-year-olds, there is room for improvement with them.

“She seems to be getting better and it’s a nice little pot to win.

“We might go for the Lartigue with her, although I don’t know what the handicapper is going to do to us now. She likes the ground and it will be ground dependent.

McConnell concluded: “It’s hard to evaluate that race. Either the two behind have run below form or she’s run very well. I’d say to Sandy Shaw that the two of them have run below par!”

LISTOWEL BOUND

Listowel is also on the agenda for Dorans River (6/1) after his victory in the Purfield Memorial Handicap Hurdle. The Tom Doran-owned gelding travelled strong to pick up the lead after the third last in the three-miler and went on to post a cosy eight-length success for Ambrose McCurtin.

“He’s a not a bad little horse. Tom is stopping me going chasing with him but he’ll probably go chasing sooner rather than later,” said trainer Stephen Mahon.

“Tom (Doran) wanted to go for the two-and-a-half but I had Stormey in it and wanted to split them up. I thought I might have two winners.

“He’ll get a few pounds for that. We’ll see where we go now, Listowel is Tom’s thing.

“I’m delighted for Tom because he sent me all the horses out of Gordon Elliott’s which was a big ask. We have a couple of nice horses to come for Listowel. He’s a great owner and great with me.”

“The horses just weren’t firing the last month or two but thankfully we’ve had two winners this week and they are starting to turn a corner.”

FAVOURITE

James Dullea is hoping it’s onwards and upwards with Mohart after he got off the mark in the opening Lougher Stables Maiden Hurdle. The 4/1 joint-favourite fought it out with Deburrafield in the straight and found more on the run-in for Jack Kennedy to post a three-parts of alength success in the colours of Catriona O’Donovan.

“I thought he would have won his hurdle before now,” said Dullea. “I suppose we’re learning about. That’s probably a bit short for him but it was a lesser race.

“It’s fantastic to come all the way up here and get a winner. It makes the journey home shorter.” Dullea added: “He’ll go until the ground softens and then he’ll get a break.

“I’m delighted for the owners, they are great supporters of mine, and we’ve been a while waiting for this fella. Hopefully things might come together for him now.”

The Padraig Roche-trained Demi Plie sprang a 25/1 shock on her return to action in the Byrne Marquees Handicap Hurdle. Carrying first time cheek-pieces, the Mastercraftsman filly challenged going to the second last and hit the front on the run-in to score by two-lengths under Jody McGarvey.

“We always thought she had the ability to win one but she has her own ideas sometimes and the cheek-pieces seemed to work,” said Roche.

“It’s great to get a win out of her as she’s a well-bred filly. We’ll run away with her and try and win as much as we can with her.”

My Friend Aoife looks set for a break after getting off the mark at the third time of asking for Ross O’Sullivan in the concluding Woods Financial (Ladies Pro-Am) Flat Race.

The 3/1 favourite got the better of Auntie Mary in the closing stages to record a half-length victory under Jody Townend.

“She’s a filly that we got last summer and she’s been in training all winter. She’s by a great sire and has a nice pedigree,” said O’Sullivan.

“She wanted a bit of nice ground and I can’t see her going on winter heavy ground. She’s only a four-year-old and she’ll go on to be a nice spring/summer hurdler next year as well.”

ACTING STEWARDS:

L. McFerran, P. Molony, R. Dore, J. Collins and P. D. Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

AUNTIE MARY (J McConnell): She went down fighting in the bumper and looks like she can be placed to pick up a similar contest before long.