Lean Araig wins on handicap debut

The Oliver McKiernan trained Lean Araig landed the Follow Us On Facebook & Twitter Handicap Hurdle on his handicap debut at Punchestown today, scoring under jockey Robbie Colgan.

The son of Old Vic had finished in the prizemoney on four of his five previous starts and seemed to appreciate the step into handicap company today, when scoring a comfortable four and a quarter of a lengths win over Sarah Battle

Afterwards McKiernan stated "he's been a nice horse from day one but his jumping was letting him down. I loose schooled him and he flew them but the penny didn't drop on the track.

"We've done a lot of schooling with him over the last week, and his last school on grass he was taking them on and he really gelled with Robbie today.

"He's an out and out three miler, and his pedigree would tell you that and that will give him great experience today."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee