Marakoush sheds maiden tag in style

Last night John Oxx was a prominent figure in the RTE-aired Power In The Blood – The Story of the Irish Thoroughbred documentary and today the Currabeg maestro was present at Ballinrobe to see his Marakoush take the opener.

A half-brother to good horses like Mourayan and Mourilyan and indeed Willie Mullins' classy hurdler Mourad, Marakoush had a straight-forward win here on his first outing since May.

Declan McDonogh soon had the 88-rated performer in front and it was a matter how far the 1/2 shot was going to win by from two furlongs out. He eventually crossed the line seven and a half lengths in front of Ashbury Boss. Neverushacon made a satisfactory debut, four and a quarter lengths back in third.

"He ran well early in the year and he just needed a bit of time. He has been going well lately and he has improved a bit over the summer.

"He handled the track well, took on the bends nicely and won well. We will see what to do with him but a handicap is probably the next stop.

"He is a nice big rangy horse. He's a half-brother to Mourad and I'd say hurdling will be his game, he stays well," reported Oxx of the Aga Khan three-year-old. (DM & EM)