Red-hot Andratx gives McNiff a double

Andratx brought up his treble in good style in the extended two mile one rated novice hurdle at Downpatrick.

He gave trainer Mark McNiff a double on the card as Atlantic Breaker also took the opening maiden hurdle.

Andratx (4/1) moved into the lead for Andrew Ring at the second last and was pushed out after the last to score by eight and half lengths. Theydon Park stayed on for second at 13/2. He came in a head in front of 5/2 favourite Whats The Plot

Mark McNiff said: "The horse that ended up favourite (Whats The Plot) was (almost) 10 lengths behind us with only a 1lb difference in the weights the last day they met. We had course form along with it.

"He's a grand little horse. The plan was to come here after Ballinrobe, which was a good while for a summer horse, so that worked out. Maybe we'll go for a mile and a half at Galway on the Wednesday on the flat."

When asked about training horses for Downpatrick, in light of his record here, he replied: "I train them on the beach, it is extremely flat!"

McNiff has been operating at a near 20 per cent strike rate at Downpatrick from 2013 and only Gordon Elliott has trained more winners at the northern venue since then.