Jack Kennedy made it five winners from the last three National Hunt meetings when steering Vote Of Confidence to victory in the Coca Cola Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal.

The clear championship leader had some fortune on his side as Jack Slade the well-backed 4/1 favourite, was travelling well at the head of affairs when falling at the penultimate flight.

The Gordon Elliott-trained 9/1 winner struck the front at the last, and kept on well under Kennedy to beat Badgerfort by three quarters of a length to the delight of the Drogheda-based Confidence Partnership. Manuka was a further length and a quarter adrift in third. Call Vinnie was badly hampered when Jack Slade fell, and eventually finished fifth.

There was drama before the 2m6f event as Topper Thornton had to be withdrawn at the start with his rider David Mullins unable to partner the 6/1 shot due to the effects of a heavy fall from Redrobin in the previous race.

Elliott said, "Jack gave him a good ride. The horse got a bit of confidence the last day in a flat race. He's in Downpatrick and might come out again on Monday."

(MG & AM)