Doyle in cross country double

It all came together for Mallowney in splendid fashion in the Ballinrobe Golf Club Maiden Hurdle as the Oscar gelding scored an emphatic four and three quarter length win in the hands of Martin Burke.

This was a lovely success for winning trainer Tim Doyle as Mallowney is owned and was bred by his wife Claire. Of course the stable also had a winner at Tipperary today in the shape of 20/1 chance Peinora

Mallowney led from before the second last and he was going to win barring accidents from there. He eventually comfortably eclipsed favourite Ted Dolly

Doyle said: "I nearly had three winners only for Fit The Cove (his Vasoni was runner-up in the last at Tipp) and it's great that this fellow finally got his act together.

"We'd been dropping him in and settling him but he wasn't finishing out his races. We just strode along with him today.

"He's a smashing horse and he has loads of ability. He's a real chaser. He'll possibly go for a novice hurdle in Galway now over two miles. We'll see how he is after this though.

"Martin rides out with me and he's a good rider. He doesn't get enough chances but when he does he's well capable of doing the job.

"He's from Holycross and he's Julie's brother. She's riding in England now." (EM)