Quickfire Double For Walk In The Park

Sunday saw An Mhi (6g Walk In The Park - Bay Pearl, by Broadway Flyer) record a fourth consecutive win and, in turn, completed a quickfire double for his breeder, trainer and sire at Downpatrick.

Gordon Elliott’s charge gained a deserved maiden win in good style at the end of May, before making two fruitful trips to the UK and was sent off favourite to follow up in the Rated Hurdle over two miles and one furlong. Leading from flag-fall under Keith Donoghue, he was ridden clear on the run-in and kept on well to score by two lengths and three quarters.

Speaking after the race, Elliott’s representative Lisa O’Neill said, “He is a real nice horse for the future because you see the size and scope of him, he will make a fence look small.”

An Mhi is owned by CB Woods, Christopher Donnelly and Pioneer Racing. The son of Walk In The Park was bred by Aaron Metcalfe, who also bred Elliott’s winner of the opener, Gaye Winnie (5m Walk In The Park - Gaye Roberta, by Bob Back).

The bay made a promising return to action last month, when finishing third in a similar contest at the track, and was well-supported to get off the mark in the Mares Maiden Hurdle over two miles and one furlong. Racing in touch under Danny Gilligan, she disputed from the second last and asserted at the final flight. Running on well under pressure on the run-in, she led by two and three quarter lengths on the line, as stablemate Signora Di Milano (Milan) took second.