The Friday Man © Photo Healy Racing
The Bar One Racing-sponsored conditions hurdle was readily won by 4/6 favourite The Friday Man
The Kayf Tara gelding, winning for the fourth time in five starts, tracked front-running stablemate Mars Harper before heading that one on the run to the last. He only needed to be pushed out by Kieren Buckley to beat Another Choice by nine lengths.
It was a double for Buckley (now on nine for the season) after A Fyn Duw A Fydd earlier, and it was a third strike of the afternoon for winning trainer Gordon Elliott.
The latter said: "He's a grand horse and a money-spinner.
"He will go on any ground."
When asked if he could be one for Down Royal, he said: "I wouldn't say no."
He added: "I'm delighted for Kieren Buckley to ride a winner for us, that's his first ride for me. I knew his mother and father very well when I was working in Pipe's (Martin). They would have looked after me very well. He's a good rider."
Quotes from Michael Graham
