Elegant wins on first start for new connections

Henry De Bromhead recorded his first win for owner JP McManus, as Elegant Statesman made a successful debut over hurdles in the June 15th & 21st Twilight Racing Maiden Hurdle.

The six-year-old son of Vinnie Roe won a bumper on his racecourse debut at Cork in October when trained by Timmy Hyde. Since that success he was purchased by JP McManus and sent into training with Henry De Bromhead.

Sent off the 13/8 favourite (backed from 11/4 on-course), he raced in second for much of the contest before he hit the front at the fifth last under Mark Walsh. He came with his challenge entering the straight and despite being pressed by Giant's Quest he kept on best on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths.

Giant’s Quest had to settle for second at 9/4 (drifted from opening show of 7/4 on-course) under Andrew Lynch for Harry Rogers while The Housekeeper kept on well to take third, a further five lengths back under Bryan Cooper for Harry Kelly at 16/1.

Henry De Bromhead said afterwards: "I'm delighted with that. He is a lovely horse and we were lucky to get him. "The McManus’s kindly sent him down to me and that is my first winner for them (his second horse for the McManus’s, Alexander Leaving being the other).

"Mark gave him a super ride and he jumped great. It will be a bonus when he meets a fence. I’ll speak to his owners now but I think the plan is to keep him on the go over summer. He will be better on better ground."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes