The opening Downpatrick Family Day Fun Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick today went to the Dessie Hughes trained Zerashan (4/1 – 9/4), under Champion Jockey Davy Russell.

The son of Azamour, carrying the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, stayed on well from the last to stretch two and three parts of a length too strong for Gold Ability

Afterwards Hughes stated “at last! - that's the first time he has got good ground since I have him and he was entitled to win on his Flat form.”

“He likes to be 'up there' in his races and jumps and stays well. Even if he gets a bit of a hike for winning this, he still looks well handicapped – he ran today from a mark of 106. If the ground dries up, he may go to Killarney and a handicap hurdle at Galway is also a possibility.”