Glen Of Aherlow scores on handicap debut

Glen Of Aherlow put four poor runs in maidens behind him to score at the first time of asking in handicap company in the Minorstown Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel.

The Getaway gelding, who cost 160,000 as a three-year-old store at the Goffs Land Rover Sale, was weak enough in the market here going off a 6/1 chance.

The complexion of the race changed a number of times in the straight with Buttevant Boy left in a clear lead after Definite Doyenne took a fatal fall two out. Marino Marvel then threw down a strong challenge which got him briefly to the front on the run-in but Mark Walsh timed things to perfection on Glen Of Aherlow.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding pounced late to land the spoils by three quarters of a length.

Marino Marvel took the runner-up spot with Buttevant Boy another length and a quarter away in third and 11/2 favourite Macho Mover in fourth.

Winning owner JP McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said, "He got his jumping together today and is learning all the time.

"He liked the ease in the ground and will jump a fence in time. We'll look for something similar next."

(TW & AM)