Elvis leads the way for Gibney at Thurles

Trainer Tom Gibney has found that Velvet Elvis has a liking for racecourses in Munster after recording another win with the five-year-old, this time at Thurles today.

Gibney made the long trip to Cork at the beginning of January where Darragh O’Keeffe partnered Velvet Elvis to victory in a maiden hurdle to follow up on a good run at Fairyhouse in December when second to the Gigginstown-owned Torygraph which has since won at Thurles also.

Today the same combination (O'Keeffe and Elvis) made all the running to take the feature Horse & Jockey Rated Novice Hurdle.by three-and-a-half lengths in the colours of owner Derek Kierans.

Purchased by trainer John McConnell for owner Derek Kierans for £95,000 last year the now five-year-old was fourth first time out in a Punchestown bumper for Gibney last September.

"He was bought by John (McConnell, for owner Derek Kierans) and there is a certain level of expectation when you shell out the dough and it is nice to get the win," said Gibney after the win at Cork in January.

A race closer to home could be next on the cards according to the trainer today - "We might look at the valuable three miles novice handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse next."

Dunshaughlin jockey Keith Donoghue added another winner to his tally today when he was first past the post with the Gordon Elliott-trained Dunboyne in a maiden hurdle.