Dangan shines bright in opener

The Big Zeb team of Colm Murphy and Robert Power warmed up for next week’s Queen Mother Champion Chase in the best possible fashion when successful with Dangan Daylight in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

The 8/1 chance was produced between horses to lead at the final flight, and stayed on well on the run-in to beat the Dick Lalor-trained pair Carrigeen Kariega (14/1) and Moyas Charm (66/1).

The odds-on favourite Beef To The Heels held (4/5) every chance early in the straight but weakened to finish fifth, while the other market fancy Quaquo De Flotte was in trouble a long way out and proved very disappointing.

Colm Murphy said, “She did it well. The ground is the key to her and hopefully it doesn’t get too dry. She’ll probably go for a mares novice hurdle before the end of the season.

“Whatever she does over hurdles will be a bonus as she’s a good staying mare and won a point-to-point for Tom Lombard. He thought quite a bit of her.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)