'I knew she'd have the pace' - Brian Hughes strikes on Dumb Love to give Ger O'Leary another British winner

Ger O'Leary enhanced his good strike-rate in Britain when taking the opening 2m1f maiden hurdle with Dumb Love, his first runner at the track as Irish-trained winners bookended the card.

The Kildare-based O'Leary, who struck at Cartmel with Doyen For A Drink last month, again called on Brian Hughes to do the steering aboard Dumb Love, who kicked on with two to jump to open his account over hurdles at the fourth time of asking. Victory made it two wins from just four runners for the trainer over jumps in Britain.

Hughes told Sky Sports Racing: "She's rated 60-odd on the Flat and runs over a mile and a quarter, so I knew she'd have the pace. 

"A good friend of mine works for Ger, so he told me all about her. He said 'don't be hanging around, drive her on from the top of the hill' and he was right."

The closing bumper went the way of the Shark Hanlon-trained Lion City, who made all under the trainer's son Paddy, fending off the late challenge of Cloudy View.

Double for Greatrex

Warren Greatrex saddled his first runners of the season at Sedgefield and came away with a 31½-1 double.

Jet Of Dreams got the day off to a perfect start when making it two wins from three starts since having wind surgery in the 2m½f handicap chase.

James Bowen did the steering and was again in the saddle when Jaramillo justified 4-1 favouritism in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.

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