The Edward O’Grady trained Slippery Serpent scored his second Downpatrick win in as many months when landing the opening Molson Coors Maiden Hurdle at the Co Down venue today.

Ridden by Paul Townend, the son of Scorpion improved past leader Hardline at the final flight and from there scored a comfortable four and a half lengths win over that rival and 11/10 favourite.

O’Grady later stated “he (Paul Townend) said it was a messy race, a bit stop-starty but said that once they speeded up, his jumping was dynamite.

"He thought he stayed very well and thought that he idled a lot when he hit the front, so you would hope there would be more in the tank.

"I think for Downpatrick it was a very fair standard maiden hurdle and he is not ground dependent, so we'll keep him on the go."

The well backed, from 5/2 to 13/8 on track, previously won his bumper at the venue in August.

Quotes from Michael Graham