Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Gainford doubles up on Western Fold
Alan Magee
Gainford doubles up on Western Fold
Western Fold and Jordan Gainford are clear on the run-in
© Photo Healy Racing
Western Fold completed a double on the afternoon for Jordan Gainford and Gordon Elliott at Gowran Park when taking division two of the PRL Group Maiden Hurdle in decisive fashion.
The Westerner gelding, who showed promise on debut when third in the valuable Goffs Sales bumper at the Punchestown Festival but unseated rider when switched to hurdles here last time, was prominent throughout along with chief market rival Crack The Sky
The 15/8 chance was sent to the front before the third last and galloped on strongly in the straight to beat the 11/8 favourite by ten lengths.
There was a further gap of 11 lengths back to Joyau De Thaix in third.
Elliott’s assistant Ian ‘Busty’ Amond said, “Jordan said he’d try and get a lead after what happened to him here the last day. He let him stride on turning out of the back as he stays going well.
“He had a look at the last but he stayed going well to the line.
“It’s our first winner for Weld-Spec who are from Scotland.” Harmonya Maker initiated the Gowran double for rider and trainer in the opener at odds of 5/2, while Elliott dominated proceedings at the other meeting in Down Royal.