Easy win for The Yellow Clay in Down Royal opener Gordon Elliott won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle for the ninth time in 10 years, as The Yellow Clay easily justified favouritism on his debut over flights. A Listed bumper winner, the Bective Stud-owned bay was second when last seen in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown. With the defection of stable companion Wingmen (stone bruise), the Yeats five-year-old went off at the prohibitive odds of 4/11, on what was his first try over this extended trip of two miles and six furlongs. In a share of the lead with Augusta George, the Sam Ewing ridden market leader gained an outright advantage early on the final circuit and drew clear of his rivals from three out, ultimately easing to a nine length win. The outsider of the field at 125/1, Healdsburg finished second under Liam McKenna, while Garnacho (22/1 from 200s) was another five and a half lengths away in third. The easy to back My Lyka (10/3 from 2s) ran no sort of race and finished a tailed off last. "He (Ewing) said he never came out of a hack," Elliott revealed. "He's a nice horse and I'd say you could bring him back in trip. I'd say anything from two to two and a-half miles is what he really wants. "I thought he jumped well in all, in fairness. "We could look at Navan (Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle on 17th November) - Noel and Valerie Moran (Bective Stud) are from Navan, so they will be keen to have runners there. We definitely could be looking at that." STEWARDS REPORTS * The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined My Lyka (GB), trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be blowing hard and suffering from delayed recovery post race. * P. Townend, rider of My Lyka (GB), trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stopped quickly. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
