Unbeaten Son Of Walk In The Park Eases Clear On Hurdle Bow

Down Memory Lane (5g Walk In The Park - Credo Star, by Presenting) extended his unbeaten record with a taking hurdle debut at Down Royal on Saturday.

The son of Walk In The Park bolted up in a four-year-old maiden for Jonathan Fogarty, before selling privately to JP McManus and made an impressive start for Gordon Elliott in a bumper last season. He was sent off favourite to continue the trend in the maiden hurdle over two miles and one furlong, in which he travelled strongly throughout under Derek O’Connor. In front at the third last, he began to ease clear on the run-in and kept on to win by a comfortable three lengths.

Speaking after the race, Gordon Elliott said, “Down Memory Lane never came out of a half-speed and I like what I saw there. We'll stick to two miles for now, he showed a lot of boot and a lot of class.”

Bred by Cathal Ennis, Down Memory Lane was a second impressive winner by his sire in the space of an hour, following a fine chasing debut by Silent Approach (5m Walk In The Park - Kilbarry Demon, by Bob’s Return) at Gowran Park.

Bred and trained by Con O’Keeffe, she was sent off favourite against geldings in the two and a half mile Beginners Chase, and led from flag-fall under Danny Mullins. Clear at the second last, she kept on well on the run-in to score by six and a half lengths, with another 16 lengths back to the third.

“She deserved that as she’s been placed several times over hurdles including in a Listed race,” said the winning trainer/breeder. “We’ll see if we try her in a better chase but we’ll enjoy today. Danny did a super job. It’s great when you breed them.”

As mentioned by O’Keeffe, Silent Approach had placed over hurdles on several occasions, including when finishing a close third at Listed level. The half-sister to Grade 3 winner Journey With Me (Mahler) is owned by Mrs O’Keeffe with Tadhg O’Sullivan.