Salvador Ziggy seals four-timer in Down Royal feature

Salvador Ziggy (2/1f) brought up a Down Royal double for Gordon Elliott when he landed the featured Linden Foods Hurdle.

He just held on by a short head from 14/1 shot Off You Go at the end of three miles but the main drama occurred at the second-last. Home By The Lee ran out there after finding himself short of room down the inside of Duffle Coat

Duffle Coat soon gave best at the head of affairs as Salvador Ziggy and Jack Kennedy took it up before holding a charging Off You Go.

A stewards' enquiry ensued and the result stood. This made it four wins in a row over hurdles for Salvador Ziggy since joining Elliott.

The trainer said: "I was standing on the track and didn't really see it (incident at the second-last where Home By The Lee ran out).

"It was just very hard to find a race for him (Salvador Ziggy). I thought it was a good performance by Jack's horse again. He just does what he has to do when he gets there. He has his ears pricked after the race.

"He's a nice horse and he's improving. He jumps a hurdle like he wants a fence. We'll stick to hurdles for now."

And on fourth-placed Duffle Coat, he said: "I was happy with him, I thought he ran a very good race and he will probably come on a bit from it too."

The Stewards enquired into possible interference on the approach to the second last hurdle involving Duffle Coat, ridden by D.N. Russell, placed third, and Home By The Lee, ridden by J.J. Slevin, ran out. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, J.J. Slevin stated that he attempted to go up the inner of Duffle Coat but did not have enough horse under him and ran out. D.N. Russell stated that he had raced on an inside position and on rounding the bend leading to the second last hurdle, his mount had kept straight to the hurdle and he never thought that any horse could be on his inner. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judges placings and took no further action other than to advise both riders to ride with more awareness. .