Doctor Henry scores on Handicap debut

The third and final Handicap Hurdle of day at Cork, the Mallow.ie Handicap Hurdle over 2m 3f, went to the Kieran Purcell trained Doctor Henry under Paddy Mangan.

Having raced prominently in third for much of the race the 16/1 winner soon hit the front after the fourth last.

He then skipped a couple of lengths clear with Sir Loujay the only horse to track his move. He however couldn’t go with him as he kicked on again after two out running on well to score by five and a half lengths.

The 5/2 favourite Sir Loujay plugged on for second under Mark Byrne for Liz Doyle while the gamble of the race Handsome Dan (backed from 16/1 this morning into 9/2 at the off) took third a further six and a half lengths back for trainer Denis Leahy with Mikey Butler aboard. Tango Moll for Colin Bowe with Harley Dunne aboard completed the placings a further eleven lengths back in fourth at the odds of 10/1.

The winning 6yo son of Dr Massini was making his handicap hurdle debut this afternoon after three poor efforts in maiden hurdles over the last few months.

The bay gelding had been off the track for well over a year after he finished a good second behind House Rules in a bumper at Gowran back in October of 2010.

Before that he had won a point-to-point at Dromahane in March of 2010 beating subsequent track winners Storming Gale (won two in the UK for Donald McCain), Resolute Bay (won three for Philip Fenton), Forgotten Gold (won one in the UK for Tom George), Noras Fancy (won three for Jimmy Mangan including a Listed Hurdle) and Kilmacowen (won one for Fergal O’Brien in the UK).