Staffordshire Knot leads home Elliott's 1-2-3 in Boyne Hurdle Staffordshire Knot (11/10f) led home Gordon Elliott’s 1-2-3 in Navan’s featured Grade 2 William Hill Boyne Hurdle today, with the trainer also expressing satisfaction with reappearing Irish Grand National-candidate and runner-up Better Days Ahead. Runner-up in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowwran last month, Staffordshire Knot today led under his jockey Jack Kennedy after the second-last and finished well to beat stablemates Better Days Ahead and Maxxum . Elliott, earlier successful with the Kennedy-partnered Coyote Spirit, stated "we couldn't get Staffordshire Knot to finish races last year, but this year he has just turned the corner. Even looking at him, he is a different horse and I was very happy with his run. I thought it was a good performance and he had fitness on his side. "He's qualified for the Pertemps in Cheltenham, so could end up somewhere like that but we'll see as there are Grade 2s and Grade 3s around Ireland where he could pick up a cheque every day." Regarding reappearing runner-up Better Days Ahead, who had finished sixth in April’s Irish National, he added "I thought he ran a very good race on his first run in nine months. We'll be looking at something like the Irish National again for him and I’m very, very happy with him. "He's entered in the Aintree National, so we'll see what we do. He just mightn't have enough experience for that this year, though.” Quotes from Michael Graham
