Michael Graham
Elliott and Russell at double with Station
Station Closed, near side, delivers her challenge at the last
© Photo Healy Racing
Station Closed has hit form with a vengeance and she gave Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell a double at Downpatrick when forging clear in the extended two mile five handicap hurdle.
This was the nine-year-old mare's third win in her last four starts.
She was a 7/2 chance for this 15-runner contest and moved into contention before the second last. She then hit the front with over a furlong to race and stayed on stoutly to score by seven lengths. Milestone Prince (6/1) took second. There was a further three parts of a length back to heavily backed 9/4 favourite (from 4/1) Carlitos Bay in third.
Elliott's assistant trainer Ian Amond said: "She has obviously improved for the good ground and step up in trip, she has turned inside out. Hopefully there might be another one in her somewhere. She's more than paying her way anyway.
"The Racing Club are lucky that the few horses they have on the go lately are all running well.
"If she keeps winning here she'll stay here. Maybe later on in the year she might go back to England. We'll stick her to these places for the time being."
Elliott and Russell took the preceding race on the card with William B (11/10 favourite).