Perfect timing for Gold Creek as she makes it 25th time lucky in smooth style

Thursday: Thurles

Gold Creek, owned and trained by Aengus King, had been winless on her first 24 starts, but the manner in which she scored in the well-contested 2m4f mares' handicap hurdle made it a mystery how she had failed to win previously.

Partnered by Gavin Brouder, she travelled well just behind the pace and picked up smartly to go to the front between the last two flights. The fall of Misty Millie at the last made her job easier, but she seemed to be taking the measure of her rival when she was left a few lengths clear.

King was as surprised as anyone she had failed to win before now, saying: "We bought her for half-nothing and she has been promising all the time, but she goes in season an awful lot. We try our best to get the days right. We worked her two days ago and she showed signs, so we really didn't think she would do anything today, but that's her."

He added: "She had run some nice races. She was only beaten a couple of lengths at Clonmel and her best run of all was over fences at Killarney in July and on that form she should easily have won a race at some stage.

"The low weight was a big help today and she showed a lot of guts. She's in again at Naas on Saturday and we might go. She didn't have a hard race today."

Ellaat follows up

Hexham's loss is Thurles' gain, as the BHA rules banning Irish-trained horses from Class 5 jumps races in Britain have forced Noel Kelly to stay at home with the likes of Ellaat. The son of Heerat scored for the second meeting in a row here in the 2m handicap hurdle, and in the process gave his amateur partner Owen McGill a first winner on the track.

The 7lb claiming amateur looked very capable and probably underused as he timed his challenge well to lead before the last and the combination stayed on well to beat Lesssaidthebetter by two and three-quarter lengths.

McGill, 22, who shares his time between the stables of his father Gary and Kelly, said: "I've ridden three point-to-point winners but it's nice to break my duck on the track. I'm in with Noel every morning."

Kelly was quick to praise the rider, saying: "He's a good lad and a good rider, and very dedicated to his job. He would be one of those lads that would be very careful in his eating, no alcohol or anything. He was a very good Gaelic footballer too in his time."

He added: "We'll try and get Ellaat out again in the next couple of weeks before the ground goes. Once the ground goes we'll be wasting our time. He's had two tough runs inside a fortnight so we'll see how he is."

Results, replays and analysis

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