Jordan Gainford was off to the perfect start in his new career as a professional jockey when guiding the Gordon Elliott trained Fierami to land the Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.
The Wexford native made most of the running aboard the six-year-old and the pair kept on strongly on the run-in to deny the Jim Dreaper trained Westy Fox by a length and a half.
The recently turned 20-year-old has made a notable impression in the point-to-point fields since making his debut at Boulta in December 2018 thanks in a large part to the support of leading handler Colin Bowe.
Ahead of his decision to turn professional, a move that was hastened by the ongoing suspension of the point-to-point season, the Wexford native currently sat at the top of the Under-21 riders leaderboard alongside Michael O’Sullivan and Sean Staples with four wins, having also benefitted from the support of other leading handlers such as Warren Ewing and David Christie.
It was Bowe who set up his move the Gordon Elliott yard and Gainford has already ridden for Elliott in a some high profile races whilst a qualified rider, including in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran last month and he will remain a part of the Milestone Stables team for this season, riding out their three days a week until the end of the point-to-point season before making the switch full time to Elliott.
