The Shark Hanlon trained Murchu under Andrew McNamara, won the Signsplus Maiden Hurdle at Limerick today.

Murchu and McNamara were reluctant leaders in a slowly run race but the son of Oscar did battle well in the straight before shaking off Changing Times in the closing stages for a thre parts of a length win.

Hanlon was absent but his partner Rachel O’Neill later said “Murchu is a galloper and probably wants two and a half miles. We’ll probably aim him at a winners’ race next.”