Great win for the Ryans with Cnoc

Cnoc Na Sioga caught the eye under Gillian Ryan at Cork last Sunday and he came forward from that effort to land the I.N.H. Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Novice Hurdle at Wexford.

Owned and bred by Ryan's father, John, the successful Westener gelding, outsider of the four runners here at 8/1, beat Sizing Italy (got the last flight wrong) by two and three parts of a length.

For Gillian Ryan it was a first winner over hurdles and her fourth winner overall.

Ryan senior explained: "He is a good horse and only got his ground today. The summer didn't come for him. He is a genuine horse and is as game as a pebble. He has plenty of ability and he is a half-brother to Ally Cascade (runs tomorrow in Naas) of Noel Meade's.

"I didn't want to leave him off after his Listowel run so it's good to finish like this.

"He will be a smashing novice hurdler in the spring and Gillian gave him a brilliant ride today." (DM & EM)