GORDON Elliott travelled over to Cheltenham yesterday and despatched partner Annie Bowles to oversee the yard’s runners at Downpatrick where she saddled a treble in his absence.

Confirmed as the Horse First leading trainer at the track before yesterday’s final meeting of the season, Elliott started the afternoon by sending out Crown Theatre to land the opening ITBA (Northern Region) Maiden Hurdle.

The King’s Theatre gelding was partnered by Paul Carberry who was told to drop the five-year-old out and arrive as late as possible. This the jockey did to perfection, allowing the 9/4 chance up to join Fearachain on the outer approaching the final flight before sending him on up the hill to score by four and a half lengths.

The absent Elliott was quickly on the telephone to Bowles who related that Crown Theatre would probably next contest a novice hurdle in England where he was likely to encounter better ground. The winner is owned by Anthony O’Sullivan from Newlands Cross, who also has point-to-pointers with Elliott.

O’Sullivan, who is heavily involved with greyhound racing, stated: “This is my first visit to Downpatrick and, while I liked the look of the place when we got here, I like it even better now! This fellow was trained by Fabian Burke for the points but didn’t quite stay the trip. We always thought a bit of him and he’s finally come good.”

Although there was no rain, the going was changed after the first from good to yielding, yielding in places to yielding with horses returning tired in the holding ground.

Carberry, leading jockey at Downpatrick for 2014, joined forces later with Elliott to complete a double in the two and a quarter mile beginners’ chase with Formal Bid which runs in the colours of Dublin owner Stephen McAuley.

The even-money favourite, who was held up just off the pace, put in a particularly good jump at the second last to land on terms with the always prominent pair of Darwins Theory and House Limit.

Jumping the final fence in front, the Oratorio seven-year-old had to be kept up to his work to hold off the only mare in the field, Shershewill (dismounted on track) and Darwins Theory by one and three-quarters of a length and one length.

“He jumped a bit sticky early on,” reported Carberry, “but was watching John’s horse (Icelip) who was slowing into his fences. Once I woke him up he was grand.” Bowles added the winner likes nice ground.

Davy Russell, who had only the one ride at the meeting, brought up the treble for Elliott in the A.J.C. Electrical Newcastle Handicap Chase on the 9/4 favourite Luddsdenene who led before three out and went away to beat Mia’s Anthem by 12 lengths.

This win provided compensation for Russell who had been on board Tom Howley’s Beneficial gelding when he fell at the first last time out at Tipperary.

“He landed on top of another horse that day. We weren’t sure he’d handle the track today but he did it well. Gordon’s horses are in great form.”

“This horse would prefer to go left-handed,” explained Bowles, “but once he handled the track, we fancied him to win.”

A six-hour journey from Miltown Malbay, Co Clare for jockey/trainer Danny Howard and owner Ted O’Sullivan paid off when Somethingprecious ran out the very easy winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles, six furlongs.

Prominent throughout, the eight-year-old Beneficial mare was sent on by Howard four out and, clear before the next, kept on strongly to see off the local hope, Better Back Bob, by 13 lengths. “I thought she would run well the last day (eighth at Ballinrobe) but things just didn’t work out,” said Howard. “She’d often be on her head but as the other lads took a bit of a pull today, I let her go on. She jumps well and chasing is her game.”

O’Sullivan, who was paying his second visit to the Co Down track, commented: “That was a great win but I actually fancied her more the last day!”

Andrew Lynch had little trouble winning the handicap hurdle over the same trip on the Robbie Hennessy-trained Ultra Light. The six-year-old Brier Creek mare headed the longtime leader Nevada Rose before two out and was quickly in command.

Bill Hennessy’s 5/1 shot idled somewhat up the hill but was never likely to be caught by fellow French-bred Varene De Vauzelle who was five and a half lengths down at the post.

“We’ve been tipping away with her in Perth and Bangor over the summer, winning at both tracks,” said the successful trainer. “After she ran badly the last day we were going to stop with her but she had a week out in the field and was all the better for it. She may go to Thurles on Thursday but is definitely heading to the sales in December.”

Having tried to make all the running jumping well in the beginners’ chase over two miles seven furlongs, Ravished made a mistake at the third last which allowed the even-money favourite Kashline draw alongside. Mark Walsh soon sent the market-leader on and he was left clear when Ravished fell at the next, coming home seven and a half lengths ahead of the never-threatening Indian Fairy.

Trained for Enniscorthy owners James Walsh and Kate White, the good-looking dark bay Kashline, who won two point-to-points and a hurdle, is trained by Colin Bowe who commented of the eight-year-old: “His experience stood to him. He was unlucky twice last year and was due that. He’ll go handicapping now.”

A four-timer for the Elliott yard was foiled in the concluding bumper where the Nina Carberry-ridden Miss North Light went down by three and three-quarers of a length to Drumacoo, a five-year-old 9/4 favourite Oscar gelding who was ridden by Derek O’Connor and trained by Michael Hourigan.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

RAVISHED (M.F. Morris): Having made much of the running, this hooded Oscar gelding didn’t deserve the fall he got two out in the longer beginners’ chase but thankfully he got back to his feet and jumped the last on his own.