Winner Commentariolus (Keith Donoghue, right) jumps the last with eventual 2nd placer Free Ranger (Sean Flanagan, near)© Photo Healy Racing
Solo Saxophone is two from two over flights for Frankel cross-channel, and Commentariolus the first one of the champion's sons to try jumping in Ireland, also did the business in the fairyhouse.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott's Park Paddocks (6/4 out to 11/4) was there with every chance when making a mess of the second last, and in the words of commentator Des Scahill Free Ranger then took "total advantage."
However, Elliott had another string to his bow, and the Keith Donoghue-ridden Commentariolus (10s into 9/2) was soon on the scene.
In the end the French recruit, bred by the Niarchos family and a 30,000 purchase back in August, prevailed by four and three parts of a length.
The aforementioned Park Paddocks finished eleven lengths behind in third.
"He won anyway so it's grand. He probably wants softer ground," said Elliott.
"We'll have a bit of fun with him and hopefully he'll win something else again. We'll try and find another little race for him somewhere, that probably wasn't the strongest race."
J.W. Kennedy, rider of Park Paddocks trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a bad mistake at the second last hurdle.
(GC & EM)
