JACK Kennedy had a highly-productive day in Down Royal as he partnered four winners including three for Gordon Elliott.

Staffordshire Knot went off 8/15 favourite for Elliott and Kennedy in the Molson Coors Beverage Company Maiden Hurdle and readily asserted superiority over his 10 rivals.

He was in control two out and moved clear by the last and, although he made a mistake there, he kept on strongly to come in 21 lengths clear for Caldwell Construction Ltd.

Kennedy said: “He’s a bit green, but I’d say he would be better in a better race. Hopefully, he can progress from that now. It was a nice performance. He was running around a bit at the last and was left on his own, just a little bit of greenness.”

Western Fold was backed from 7/1 to 9/2 for the Franciscan Well Rated Novice Hurdle over the extended two-mile-one-furlong trip and the money proved well-founded.

Elliott’s Westerner gelding took closer order before four out and delivered his challenge at the next flight. Kennedy sent him on approaching the penultimate hurdle and the pair drew clear at the last. They swept home by 15 lengths for Weld-Spec (Glasgow) Ltd and Dee L’Estrange.

Kennedy said: “He was good. He was keen with me two runs back and I rode him to get settled today. He did it well and will get further.”

Timeless Piece (4/1) was another wide-margin winner in the Coors Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The Saxon Warrior filly enjoyed her handicap debut as she improved to lead two out and had her rivals in trouble on the run to the last. From there, she kept on well to score by 10 lengths for Elliott, Kennedy and owner Edelle Logan.

“I was a bit worried about the ground, but she went away through it fine. I kept out onto the best of it really. She did it well, I’m happy that she got that done,” Kennedy said.

“She is not a big filly, so getting the weight is a big help on that ground.”

JACK Kennedy’s four-timer came when he teamed up with Ian Donoghue to land the Aspall Handicap Chase over an extended two and a half miles with an in-form St Denis’s Well in the colours of the Declans Bar Syndicate.

This son of Famous Name ran under the 7lb penalty for winning under Kennedy at Navan the previous Saturday.

The jockey kept a watching brief on clear leader Monoxide in this three-mile contest and began to make headway before three out.

Kennedy sent the 10/11 favourite past the leader before the final flight, however, Monoxide wasn’t done with and rallied on the run-in, but gave best by a length and a quarter close home.

Donoghue said: “He’s still a bit weak and raw and he will come on again. He’ll probably get a bit of a break.

“Jack is as cool as a cucumber, he wasn’t panicking. He said at the top of the hill he was a bit worried and then he got there too soon, and he was pulling himself up.”

Coco Kolada rewarded favourite backers with a stout effort in the Pravha Handicap Hurdle.

He was confidently ridden by Donagh Meyler and closed at the third-last flight. He got on terms before the next and went about his business on the run-in to prevail by six and a-half lengths at 11/4 for the Derby Bar Syndicate.

Trainer Karl Thornton said: “Two miles or two and a half miles is fine for him. He stayed at it well the last day, so it was grand.

“I kind of threw him in there (Naas on Sunday) when I was driving up the road and he is in England (Doncaster on Sunday) as well, but we’ll see what the handicapper does.”

Irish Blaze shows spark

IRISH Blaze (5/1) built upon the promise of a runner-up berth at Limerick over Christmas to take the honours in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase.

The front-runner’s race looked to be run when he was headed and dropped to third after three out, however, he stayed on to second jumping the last, and came with a renewed effort to lead on the run-in. Carl Millar then drove him home by an emphatic six and a half lengths for the Pony Sopranos Syndicate.

Trainer Cian Collins said: “I thought he was going a wee bit too quick maybe during the race but, in fairness, Carl sat up and gave him a breather down to the second last. He finished very strong.

“We might stick him into a big enough handicap chase off a low weight. We’ll see how it goes. He does jump brilliantly which wasn’t always the way with him.

“Davy Condon rides him out at home every morning on his own because he is a difficult horse to ride. He does a great job with him.”

Handicap debut

Daily Present (11/4) obliged on handicap debut in the Madri Excepcional Handicap Chase over three miles.

Paul Nolan’s charge was always close to the pace and challenged Positive Thinker at the last before getting the better of him on the run-in by two and a quarter lengths.

Jockey Sean O’Keeffe, sporting the DKCR Partnership silks, said: “He wasn’t a bad horse in his hurdle days. He missed a year and just took a while to get his confidence over fences.

“They were good beginners’ chases he ran in and he’s got his confidence. It was a nice handicap to start off with - smallish field and he jumped really well. First-time tongue-tie today helped him to see out the trip strongly.”