Paul Carberry's many fans are having a profitable evening at Ballinrobe. A smooth winner on Rocky Wednesday earlier, the brilliant Meath man gave Gerry O'Neill's Ballyreesode a similar steer in the Connacht Spring Show May 19th Handicap Hurdle.

A mistake at the last by the Wexford winner, would have given backers of the 100/30 joint favourite a momentary anxious moment, but Carberry soon had the successful Waveney gelding back on an even keel and he went on to defeat his fellow market-leader, Sterling Stuff by four lengths.

Winning trainer Gerry O'Neill was on leading-up duties but it was no surprise in the aftermath to hear that the tactics were not to hit the front too soon as Ballyreesode doesn't do much in front.

For Sterling Stuff's handler, Robert Tyner, it been a 'nearly' evening as this was the Cork handler's third runner-up placing on the programme – following on from Byerley Babe and Kandinski (TW & EM)