The opening race this afternoon at Downpatrick, The Ladbrokes Telebetting Maiden Hurdle was won by the Mouse Morris trained In The Zone ridden by Paddy Flood in the familiar colours of J P McManus.

Flood raced the Bob Back gelding in front, was headed before the last but under a strong drive by the jockey he managed to get up in the closing strides and win by ? length.

Winning jockey Flood said afterwards, "He's a big horse and the track probably didn't suit him. I thought he was beaten before the last but he went came up the hill well it probably helped that he's trained on a hill at home."