Walkabout and Jack Kennedy lead them home© Photo Healy Racing
Jack Kennedy doubled his score at Ballinrobe, following up his earlier success on the Prunella Dobbs-trained Pursecco by taking the featured E.P.S. Handicap Hurdle on 6/4 favourite Walkabout
Owned by the Wasylocha/Murphy/Reynolds and O'Brien (Gary of Attheraces fame) alliance, Walkabout went off a well-supported market-leader on the back of some decent efforts in all-aged company on recent starts.
Against just his fellow four-year-olds here, in what seemed a muddling affair, Kennedy struck a decisive blow when going for home from the quarter mile pole.
Second choice in the betting, Duke Cass closed well on the run-in, but he was never getting there and a length and a half split them at the finish. There was the same distance back to Tagg's Island in third.
"He kind of threw away a few races with his jumping, but he jumped well today," said winning trainer Gordon Elliott.
"We might have to hold him up a bit longer as he seems to have just one run and then he flattens out.
"It mightn't have been the greatest race in the world but it was a good pot and it's nice to win it. Jack is riding well and the horse might go to Perth now for a novice hurdle."
D. Meyler, rider of Duke Cass trained by Karl Thornton, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right.
R. Walsh, rider of King Christophe trained by Miss Nicole McKenna, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumped poorly and pulled up.
(DM & EM)
