Caro gets off the mark in Downpatrick opener

Caro Des Flos got favourite backers off to the perfect start at Downpatrick, as he ran out a comfortable winner of the opening Pat O´Hare Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle.

A half-brother to Balko Des Flos, the son of Tiger Groom had been disappointing since arriving from France, and was beaten at 2/5 over the course and distance in March.

Fifth in a competitive handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival on his last start, the six-year-old gelding came in for plenty of support today.

Available at 6/4 in early shows, he eventually went off a 4/5 chance under David Mullins for his uncle Willie.

Settled behind the leaders, he improved to the front from three out, and stretched clear from the last, going on to score by nine lengths.

The Gordon Elliott duo of Ravenshill (33/1) and Count Simon (15/2) finished second and third respectively, with half a length between at the line.

David Mullins said afterwards: "He travelled great and loved the ground. They've done a fantastic job on the ground up here - it was lovely juicy ground. He just travelled a lot better on it.

"I'd say he is a bit better than his ratings suggest. He needs just a good trip and a strongly-run race and on good ground around here you get that. He'll certainly get three miles and he'll have no problem jumping a fence.

"He ran away with me pulling up down the hill and I was impressed with him."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham