Connacht Rugby Captain John Muldoon presents Gordon Elliott with his prize after the win of Automated© Photo Healy Racing
After winning the previous contest with Death Duty Bryan Cooper and Gordon Elliott quickly doubled-up with Automated in the Grade B Tara Handicap Hurdle.
Fourth and fifth on his last two starts, the five-year-old son of Authorized was available at 14/1 in a place this morning, but went off at just 8's.
Settled in rear he made good progress from three out and went third before the next. He was ridden in pursuit of the leader after the last, and edged to the front in the closing stages, going on to score by a length and a quarter. Scoir Mear who was sent off the 3/1 favourite, had to settle for second under Barry Geraghty for Tom Mullins, while Gurteen was another twenty lengths back in third under Phillip Enright for Robert Tyner at 7/2.
Gordon Elliott said afterwards: "Bryan gave him a peach of a ride. Ideally he wants to be a length or two down at the last and come with one run as he does not like to be in front too long.
"The conditions suited and the track suited him."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
