GORDON Elliott had his team in tremendous shape before jump racing’s summer break and the trainer’s string have returned in similar heart following last week’s resumption as he notched up his second double in three days and this brace was supplied by a pair of promising types.

The first to strike was Salvador Ziggy who followed up his Punchestown maiden hurdle success in late May in the Supervalu Ladies Day Rated Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles for horses rated 130 or less.

The William and Aisling Hurley-owned son of El Salvador was returned a well-backed 5/6 favourite and stole through on the inner of Desert Friend to make his bid after two out.

Jack Kennedy’s mount always seemed to be in charge after the last and he reached the line with a length and a quarter to spare over Dovlator.

“He feels like a horse who will get further. He’s a great jumper too and he should be a lovely horse to go chasing with in time,” said the rider.

Elliott’s second winner came courtesy of the smart Amir Kabir (15/8) in the Larry O’Farrelly Memorial Maiden Hurdle over just short of two miles. The winner was a decent type on the level in Britain and bounced back from a poor run on the flat at Leopardstown a couple of months ago to win nicely while giving the impression that he should improve plenty.

The Stephen O’Connor-owned five-year-old was going nicely turning for home and from the second last he always seemed to have the 114-rated Hisnameis Mrdevitt covered.

Amir Kabir wasn’t all that fluent at the last couple of flights but still had two and a quarter lengths to spare at the line, with the front pair finishing well clear of the others.

“He made a couple of novicey mistakes but will learn plenty from this. He picked up the second horse nicely. His jumping will need to improve but I think it will and he could be a smart horse,” remarked Kennedy.

McNally’s Petrol Head motors home

OWNER-trainer Ronan McNally sent out his first winner since New Year’s Day as Petrol Head bagged the 80-102 rated Re/Max Team Earley Handicap Hurdle over just short of two miles. This gelding was never a factor and easy to back on his three previous outings, but in a race hit by several non-runners he was returned a strongly supported 7/4 favourite (having been available at double-figure prices earlier in the day) and raced on the pace for Keith Donoghue.

Petrol Head led with three to jump but had to contend with the menacing effort of Makfils in between the last two flights. However, the latter was nowhere near as fluent as Petrol Head at the last and the market leader readily moved clear to reach the line just under three lengths ahead of Presenting Lad.

Beeton best

The Shane Nolan-trained Mister Beeton, who shaped well when second in a Ballinrobe bumper in late May, for which he was well supported at big prices, confirmed himself to be a nice type in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles.

In seven bumper runs, the John Clarke-owned and -bred gelding had shown an encouraging level of ability and he took well to this new discipline.

On the run to two out, the leader Glendars Mahler went to run out and in the course of this manoeuvre he lost his footing and came down which handed the initiative to the Shane Fitzgerald-ridden Mister Beeton (9/2). The latter immediately stamped his authority on the race to finish five lengths ahead of the 96-rated Dinero Falso.

Doll in charge

Earlier Gavin Cromwell’s Shes Some Doll justified 11/4 favouritism with authority in the two-and-a-half-mile claiming hurdle.

A dual winner in the past, the daughter of Yeats had been running to a respectable level on her recent starts and she took charge of this race before the second last before a near six-length triumph over the staying-on Sicario.

The Ever Optimistic Syndicate-owned winner was put in at a claiming price of €6,000 after the race and will now join Tom Gibney after being picked up Declan Reilly.

Well Polly puts her mind to job

JULY 4th was a day to cherish for Ballingarry-based trainer Jennifer Lee, a sister of top flat jockey Billy Lee, as she recorded her first track success with Well Polly who struck at 18/1 in the 80-95 rated Roscommon Herald Handicap Hurdle over just short of three miles.

A 25-race maiden whose career began just over three years ago, the Con Donegan-owned Well Polly put it altogether here under Darragh O’Keeffe. She was travelling notably well early in the straight and brushed aside Miss Us O from the second last to finish with seven and a half lengths to spare.

“She’s a mare with loads of ability and Darragh was the key to her. If she ever just put her mind to it, she would win like she won tonight, and she’s been in great form for the last month,” reported the trainer.

Rockstown recovers

The card concluded with another 18/1 winner as Rockstown Girl was produced by Anthony McCann to make a smart winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Ladies (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

A daughter of Iffraaj and out of a winning Galileo mare from a useful flat family, this filly looks a nice type. She had just two rivals behind her on the approach to the straight. Áine O’Connor threaded her mount into contention in the straight and as the leaders wilted inside the last quarter of a mile, the Avril Barry-owned Rockstown Girl surged to the front to score by half a dozen lengths.

“We’ve always loved her. She was supposed to go for a bumper last year but she suffered a hairline fracture in her last piece of work,” reported McCann who was sending out his second bumper winner this season.

“Avril took her home, and she went into Gillian Scott’s for pre-training just after Christmas. Gillian did a fantastic job with her and she came to me eight weeks ago. She’s a very nice filly.”