Carnfunnock upsets odds to give Crawford double

Carnfunnock put his previous experience to good use when proving too strong for odds on favourite Better Days Ahead in the concluding WorkPal INH Flat Race at Down Royal.

A winner of an Ayr bumper last November, the Stuart Crawford trained five-year-old was subsequently third in a graded race at the Dublin Racing Festival before disappointing on his final start at Punchestown.

Sent off second favourite here behind the Gordon Elliott trained Better Days Ahead, the race developed into a match between the pair from some way out.

Ben Crawford held onto the eventual winner for as long as possible and had too much toe for the runner up when it eventually became a sprint.

Trainer Stuart Crawford, who was completing a double said: "He's a very, very good horse.

"We were very disappointed whenever Facile Vega beat him as easily as he did back in Leopardstown, but you just have to take that on the chin and go on.

"He wasn't quite right in Punchestown and I probably shouldn't have run him that day. He's had a good break and has strengthened up well.

"The plan was always to go hurdling with him but, just the way this race cut up, I stuck him in it. Our hand was forced really, we had to go and run.

"I'd imagine now we would be straight over hurdles with him, he has his schooling all done and he is ready to go hurdling unless there is another bumper for him.

"I'm friendly with Warren (Ewing) who had sold the horse (runner-up Better Days Ahead) to Gordon (Elliott). Both Gordon and Warren were very sweet on that horse and he could be a very good horse too.

"It was grand to get it.

"If he could improve from his bumper form and, touch wood he has been a good jumper, he could be exciting.

"It is good for Ben (Crawford, brother) to get a winner, he works hard at the weight."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham