Walk In The Park Enjoys Smart Double

Will Do (6g Walk In The Park - Alleygrove Lass, by Alderbrook) completed a double for his sire and trainer when running out a clear winner of Friday’s maiden hurdle at Sligo.

Gordon Elliott’s recruit finished second to the smart Monbeg Park (Walk In The Park) over hurdles before placing in three bumpers and gained a deserved win in a bumper at the end of last season. Stepping up to an extended three miles on return, he was sent off favourite under Jack Kennedy and raced prominently throughout. Asserting at the third last, he was pushed clear from the penultimate flight and stayed on well on the run-in to win by six and a half lengths.

“Will Do is a good stayer,” Elliott later said. “He loves galloping and he showed that when he won his bumper at Cork. He's a nice horse going forward and hopefully he will win plenty of races.”

Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, Will Do was bred by Alan Loughlin out of Alleygrove Lass, whose Walk In The Park colt foal sold for €57,000 last winter.

Elliott is also expecting bigger things from Firm Footings (5g Walk In The Park - Tempest Belle, by Glacial Storm), who made a successful seasonal return earlier on the card.

The Caldwell Construction-owned bay won a bumper and maiden hurdle last season before running a fine race at the Cheltenham Festival. He appeared better than ever on Friday when keeping on well to beat the short-priced favourite and black-type performer Horantzau D’airy by a length and a quarter.

The winning trainer later said, “Firm Footings is a good, solid horse with a great attitude and he dug deep. When he steps up in trip down the line, he should develop into a nice staying chaser.”

Bred by Aidan Aherne and Cathal Ennis, the €220,000 purchase is a full-brother to Grade 3 winner Monty’s Star (Walk In The Park) and half-brother to Grade 1 victor Monalee (Milan).