Foley guides Quirt to follow-up success

Quirt Evans followed-up on his impressive course win from last month, as he took the O'Neill's Bar Rated Novice Hurdle.

Trained by David O'Brien, the son of Getaway justified odds-on favouritism on his last start and he was again well-fancied this evening, going off the 13/8 favourite in the colours of owner Aidan Fogarty.

Settled behind the leaders by Jack Foley, the six-year-old improved to dispute the lead after four out. In front on the approach to two out, he was ridden between the final two flights and kept on well to score by a length-and-a-half. Mr Caplan (10/1) finished second under Jordan Gainford for Denise Foster, while Asserted (12/1) was another length back in third.

"He is improving away the whole time," O'Brien said.

"I will probably find something at Listowel for him now. I will up him in grade and see if he can make it up another step. He will probably go for another novice. There was couple of races we were talking about so we will stick him in both and decide closer to the time.

"Jack said even when he was in front that he was still idling, so hopefully he still has plenty left.

"Hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him either. He was on a mark of 115 going in to today. I think there is more improvement in him.

"I'm delighted for his owner Aidan as he has been patient with him. He got hurt when he finished third as a four-year-old in a point-to-point and we couldn't sell him. We said we would continue to race him and he is paying us back thank God."