Despite drifting in the market, Cracking Man overcame a long layoff to win the opener at Downpatrick this afternoon, the Downpatrick Family Day Maiden Hurdle.

The Michael O’Hare trained gelding was 11/10 with Paddy Power this morning, but opened on-track at 9/4 before going off the 5/2 favourite.

The five-year-old son of Statue Of Liberty won a bumper on his debut at Wetherby last June, but disappointing on his next start at Down Royal, finishing fifth of ten behind Mister Nibbles, when sent off the 4/5 favourite.

That run was also in June of last year, and making his return to action this afternoon and his first start over hurdles, he was held up towards the rear in the early stages.

He made headway into fourth at the third last, producing his challenge at the final flight and getting on top in the closing stages to win by a length. Pepparpot (4/1) ran a nice race to finish second at 4/1 under Danny Mullins for his mother Mag, while the one for money on-course, Nell’s Nan (5/1 to 10/3), finished eight and a half lengths back in third under Mark Bolger for John McConnell.

Michael O'Hare said afterwards: "I made the biggest mistake running him in Down Royal last year after he won his bumper at Wetherby.

"I shouldn’t have run him twice as a four-year-old and he went wrong after that race.

"Robbie (Colgan) got down off of him and said he has lost speed but gained stamina.

"He might go to Galway now, there is a novice race there from him and hopefully the horses are back in form now."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham