Un Beau Matin does it from the front in Downpatrick© Photo Healy Racing
Un Beau Matin dominated the four runner Don’t You Just Love Downpatrick Hurdle in the hands of Paul Carberry and brought up a double for the jockey and trainer Gordon Elliott.
The six-year-old, who was supported down to 8/11 favouritism, made all over two and a quarter miles and came home a comfortable seven lengths ahead of Passage Vendome (9/2).
“This was a good opportunity for him. The trip was a bit short so we made use of him. His form was good, he was beaten nine or 10 lengths by Dunguib,” Gordon Elliott reported.
“We didn’t want him to jump a fence this year. He’ll go jumping fences next year.”
The field was reduced to four runners as Gimli’s Rock was a non runner due to the change in going while Call Box was withdrawn by order of the stewards due to a passport irregularity.
This was Un Beau Matin’s first win since November 2012 when he picked up a Punchestown hurdle over two and three quarter miles. He was third to Dunguib in a Grade 2 hurdle in Navan in February, beaten nine and a quarter lengths.
