Danny Gilligan helps Gordon Elliott bookend meeting with victories after impressive Chortal lands the opener

Danny Gilligan picked up from where he left off after Friday’s double at Ballinrobe when steering odds-on Chortal to victory in the opening 2m1f maiden hurdle.

The four-year-old was making his sixth appearance for Gordon Elliott after being bought for 40,000gns from John and Thady Gosden, and won by 13 lengths from stablemate Old Bridge.

After winning in the orange silks of Aidan 'Mouse' O'Ryan, who won the 2017 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Labaik, Gilligan told Racing TV: “He was well entitled to go out and do something like that. He’s done it very easy in the end.”

Gilligan’s other mount, Howdoyalikeherhome, was fourth behind the Ian Donoghue-trained Imadpour, who justified 7-4 favouritism under Conor Stone-Walsh in the 2m1f handicap hurdle.

Howdoyalikeherhome’s trainer Elliott later completed a double when the Harry Swan-ridden Coyote Spirit got off the mark at the fourth attempt in the bumper.

Welcome winner

Gavin Cromwell had already won at Ayr with The Other Mozzie before the trainer’s Half Past Tipsy was 11-8 favourite to make a successful handicap debut.

However, Keith Donoghue’s mount fell three out in the 2m1f mares’ handicap hurdle which enabled Letters To Juliet to provide trainer Patrick Downey with his first winner since November 2022. 

Cromwell gained compensation when Aspurofthemoment followed up his successful stable debut at Gowran Park off an 11lb higher mark in the 3m handicap hurdle. The 7-4 favourite completed a hat-trick, having won a Dromahane point on his final start for Eugene O'Sullivan in November.

Read these next:

'When you’re riding for Willie it’s easy, isn’t it?' - perfect spare for ice-cool Cobden as Captain Cody leads home Mullins 1-2 

2025 Scottish Grand National result: where your horse finished and who won 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.