Staffordshire ties Boyne Hurdle rivals up in knots

Staffordshire Knot showed a different side to his character to provide Gordon Elliott with a record sixth win in the William Hill Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

Elliott fielded three of the six runners and with Better Days Ahead and last year’s winner Maxxum filling the places, the Cullentra handler dominated the Grade Two.

No trainer has now won the race as much as Elliott and with names like Trapper John, Dorans Pride, Limestone Lad and Tiger Roll on the roll of honour, it holds an affectionate place in Irish racing.

Staffordshire Knot had struggled to live up to his €510,000 price tag until this season but easy wins at Punchestown and Clonmel followed by a big run in defeat in the Galmoy Hurdle have seen him turn a new leaf.

He looked beaten going down to the second last with Maxxum seemingly set for a repeat win. But in testing conditions, Jack Kennedy guided the 11-10 favourite to a two-and-a-half-length success over his two stablemates.

“It is a lucky race for us. Navan is a great track and we love it here. It’s great to win it again,” said Elliott.

“I thought it was a good performance by Staffordshire Knot and he had fitness on his side.

“We couldn’t get him to finish races last year but this year he has just turned the corner. Even looking at him, he is a different horse. We’re very happy with his run.

“He’s qualified for the Pertemps in Cheltenham, so he could end up somewhere like that. We’ll see as there are Grade Twos and Grade Threes around Ireland that he could pick up a cheque in every day.”

As for his other runners, Elliott said: “I thought Better Days Ahead ran a very good race, it was his first run in nine months. We’ll be looking at something like the Irish National for him – we’re very, very happy with him.

“He’s entered in the Aintree Grand National, so we’ll see what we do. He just might not have enough experience for that this year.

“Maxxum, again on the ground, ran a great race. I call him my little slot machine as every time he runs he picks up a cheque but he’s quite hard to place these days.”