Death Duty starts out well over hurdles

Gigginstown, Gordon Elliott and Ruby Walsh were pipped in Roscommon's first race but they made no mistake with Death Duty in race two - the two and a half mile maiden hurdle.

The 1/3 favourite stalked Able Dash before easing to the front approaching the home straight.

He popped the last three hurdles on the bridle and sauntered in by eight lengths. Coeur Joyeux followed him home at 9/2, with another seven lengths back to Aint Dunne Yet (12/1).

Gordon Elliott said: "He’s a nice horse. He was a bit fresh and gassy early but we can plan where we want to go now.

“I’d say he’ll stay further but he’s not slow either. We’ll look for a novice hurdle for him in three of four weeks time and see how we go.

“I’d say he loves that ground.”

Paddy Power cut Death Duty from 20/1 to 16/1 for the Albert Bartlett novices hurdle at Cheltenham while BoyleSports introduced him at the same price for that race.

This was Death Duty's first crack at hurdles having won a point-to-point and two bumpers, including a Listed one in Navan.

He was also third in the valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse in April last year.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson