GRAND National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott carted off the first major jumps race at Ffos Las as Backstage romped to a 10-length success in the freebets.co.uk Handicap Chase.
The legendary Peter O’Sullevan made the long journey across the M4 to officially open the track.
With Ireland accounting for nearly one third of the declarations in front of the sell-out crowd, a fair proportion of the seven races were up for export, five of which headed across the Irish Sea.
Backstage (15-2), a fine third at Newton Abbot last weekend, coasted clear from two out under Tom Scudamore.
Tony McCoy dominated the inaugural jumps fixture two months ago, and picked up where he left off with a near-121-1 treble. He completed his hat-trick in the WD Lewis Handicap Hurdle as Charlie Swan’s Valain scored as the 7 to 2 favourite. This followed successes in the Keith Lewis Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase on Jonjo O’Neill’s Foxesbow and in the Shadow Scaffolding Novices’ Chase on Archie Boy.
Ruby Walsh’s first ride at Ffos Las was a winning one when producing Carsonstown Boy (4-1) at the final flight to take the Iwan Thomas Novices’ Hurdle.
Jessica Harrington’s Just Moscow (5-1) also scored in the Gee Construction Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Yesterday’s scheduled meeting at Hamilton was abandoned due to a waterlogged track after seven millimetres of rain overnight.
