All the way from Odit at Down Royal

The suggestion before the opener at Down Royal, the Bet With The Tote Maiden Hurdle, was that Odit could be problematic for his rivals if allowed to lead. So it proved as Mervyn Torrens' gelding made all under Mick Darcy.

However the jumping deficiencies of his rivals Shemshal (odds-on favourite) and Cape Glory did Odit no harm as he eventually triumphed from that pair by a length and a quarter and half a length.

"He came on from his run here last time. The German horses are good tough horses. Every one I've bought has won.

"He won over two miles two in Germany and he jumps well. He has a flat rating of 67 and he might be one for Galway - we'll have a think about that. The owner, Liam Kerrigan is from Randalstown and it's the first horse he has had with me," explained Torrens.

P. Carberry, rider of Bronco Bill trained by Noel Meade, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount cocked his jaw and ran out down the back straight.

(MG & EM)