Angostura clips the last but is nicely clear© Photo Healy Racing
Jack Kennedy kept it simple aboard 2/5 favourite Angostura in the opening maiden hurdle at Gowran Park.
The market fully expected Gordon Elliott's five-year-old gelding to improve upon a very promising runner-up berth on hurdle debut at Navan, and he was far from inconvenienced in doing so in a race that very few horses landed a blow.
He raced at the head of affairs from Tranquil Sea and he increased his lead before the straight. The leader was a little hesitant over two out but had Tranquil Sea under pressure on the run to the last.
The favourite asserted before the last, which he clipped, and he coasted in by a decisive five lengths. Tranquil Sea (11/4) was some 13 lengths clear of third-placed Moudan (66/1).
Kennedy said: “He was a little bit green in front, but has done it very nicely. He’s a nice horse and there should be plenty of days with him.
“The ground is very testing, its holding. He got through it, but would prefer it a bit nicer.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
