New Year Honours © Photo Healy Racing
The first division of the Primal Performance & Fitness Maiden Hurdle saw 11/8 favourite New Year Honours score comfortably to give Gordon Elliott and Danny Gilligan a double on the day.
The Nathaniel filly, a 1m4f all-weather winner for Ralph Beckett, had finished second on hurdles debut at Down Royal in November and was fitted with a tongue-tie for this first start since Christmas.
Having tracked the leaders, she hit the front after the second-last and asserted before the last to beat Fermoyle by five and a half lengths.
“On her run last year she was entitled to do that,” said Elliott.
“She was good there, he said she took a blow and she'll come from it.
“She's probably a filly that we could mix back on the Flat as well.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
