Earl lords it over his rivals

Definite Earl was matched at odds of 1.03 'in-the-run' when ultimately beaten into second at Sligo last Wednesday, but there was no such drama for the seven-year-old at Ballinrobe as he sprung a surprise in the opening McHale Fusion 3 Novice Hurdle.

Robbie Colgan made virtually all on the outsider of the four runners at 13/2, back in trip from his Sligo effort, to an extended two miles here.

He was sloppy at the second last when pressed, and despite flicking his tail on the run-in, the son of Definite Article, getting off the mark on attempt number nine, kept up the gallop to see off the strongly-backed favourite, Ibsen by a length and three parts.

"He was second on his last couple of runs and when we saw only seven entries we said we would take our chance," revealed winning trainer David Broad.

"That is probably him finished now for the summer as he has been on the go for a good while. He should make a smart chaser; he is from a staying chasing family.

"He is a good fun horse and the owners will knock plenty of fun out of him. When he comes back in he will go chasing."

Final finisher Off The Mark was found to be clinically abnormal post race.

(DM & EM)