Grey Soldier earns his spot in Galway

Gordon Elliott and Paul Carberry can do no wrong at present and completed a treble this afternoon at Bellewstown when Grey Soldier came home in front in the Seamus Mulvaney Crockafatha Handicap Hurdle. Not To Know and Paul Townend travelled well to take up the lead before the second last and looked to have the race in the bag after jumping the last, but Carberry came with one late surge to get up and lead close home on the well-backed favourite Grey Soldier.

A delighted Elliott said afterwards: “I’m delighted this horse won, he deserved it.”

“Paul [Carberry] was brilliant once again, he has been riding out for us for a while now so he knows all the horses which is a huge help.”

“We always thought this horse was a Galway Hurdle horse, but he has disappointed us. After that performance he’ll definitely have an entry in the hurdle.”