Double for Elliott as Bigbadandbeautiful impresses

Bigbadandbeautiful was an impressive winner of the last at Clonmel, the Friday June 7th BBQ At Clonmel Races Mares Flat Race, completing a quick double for Gordon Elliott.

A good third on debut at Navan in December, the Big Bad Bob five-year-old then ran a huge race to finish second in a Grade 2 contest at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Expected to get off the mark this evening, the Andrew Bedford owned victor was sent off the 1/2 favourite under Jamie Codd.

Having raced mainly in second, she improved to lead five furlongs from home and eased clear with over a furlong left to race, going on to score by nine lengths. Hill Of Truth (7/1), who is out of nine time winner Knockfierna, ran on well to take second under Finian Maguire for Charles Byrnes, while fellow newcomer Could Be Trouble (10/1) was a further length and three parts back in third.

Elliott's assistant, Ian 'Busty' Amond said afterwards: "Jamie said he was delighted with her. The first few days he rode her she was still very green and she's come on a lot for them. He liked her and said she was galloping out through the line.

"Jamie said she's probably quick enough to go back to a mile and six amateur race. Maybe the owners would be keen to do that as they have had a lot of good Flat horses down through the years.

"It's our first horse for them and good to get them a winner."

Bigbadandbeautiful is a half-sister to Dandy Dan who has won five times in the UK for Kim Bailey, and was last seen finishing second in a valuable novices' handicap chase at Ayr last month.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee