Gainford caps memorable week with Downpatrick win

Jordan Gainford capped a fantastic week, as one of Ireland's newest professional jockeys added the opening Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick today to a win with The Shunter at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday.

Gainford, who turned professional just last month, had four rides at Cheltenham this week winning on Emmet Mullins' The Shunter in the Paddy Power Plate while also filling second place on two of Denise Foster's Cullentra runners, The Bosses Oscar in the Pertemps Final and Petit Mouchoir in the County Hurdle.

It was on Foster's Stranger Danger that Gainford gained his latest win, as the pair overcame traffic problems approaching the final flight before switching to challenge and eventually quicken for a 3.75L win over Gelee Blanche

Afterwards Cullentra's stable representative Ian Amond stated "he had a bit of experience with the two runs over hurdles and the better ground suited him well. He stays at it well.

"It's nice to get him off the mark. He looked in a bit of trouble at the last but he picked up well in the straight and stayed going.

"Looking at him there, further is probably going to suit him. He was really only getting going halfway up the hill.

"His previous runs were nice runs, so he was entitled to go close.

"He'll go for the series final in Punchestown.”

Quotes from Michael Graham