Make The Switch delights McConnell in north

John McConnell's new recruit Make The Switch was a ready winner of the PepsiCo Maiden Hurdle on his jumping debut in Down Royal.

He was picked up at the Sales having run four times for Dermot Weld.

The four-year-old gelding went off 15/8 favourite for this assignment, as forecast favourite Weihnachts was a non runner due to a temperature.

He powered away from his rivals on the run-in, under Darragh O'Keefe, to score by five lengths from Zalika (13/2). White Desert (14/1) came in third, some 13 lengths adrift.

John McConnell said: "As you saw there he is a jumper all over. I was looking through his pedigree today for a bit of soft ground and I couldn't find it.

"He just gallops and has a great mind and took to hurdling really well. We haven't over schooled him especially over those hurdles because it is hard to get those hurdles in the summer.

"He should improve. This was the plan and the owner is home from America, so it is great. I'm delighted.

"He's only a four-year-old, so he has to improve. I know it wasn't the best of maiden hurdles but he will stay further - over three miles he could ride a quieter race on him and I think he would love it.

"He (O'Keefe) said he felt he was never going to get beaten. He gave him a couple of cracks and he went away.

"We were in Newmarket and we were looking for hurdlers and juvenile hurdlers which are impossible to get. I saw this guy and he looked a National Hunt horse.

"I thought he would make more and I couldn't understand why he didn't make more. He's a gorgeous-looking horse.

"We took a punt and it has paid off, he wasn't that expensive.

"When you see him he's only a shell, you would have to think he would improve."