Matt back to winning ways for Halford and Collins

Master Matt bounced back to winning ways at Fairyhouse to give the Michael Halford and Tracey Collins partnership an across-the-card double tonight.

The Curragh training team had also struck at Cork with Son Of Sampers and Master Matt backed up a good run at Fairyhouse last week by going one better.

Scott McCullagh drove the 10/3 shot to the front passing the furlong pole and he stayed on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-half win over long-time leader Tai Sing Yeh

“He's had his issues over the years, and had a couple of trainers, but we are getting to really know him well now,” said Halford of the seven-year-old.

“We discovered after we got him that he's blind in one eye so I'm sure that didn't help but he's getting it together well and ran a blinder here last week.

“We thought the turning six might suit him as he's inclined to use too much petrol running in a straight line.

“I'm delighted for Frank (Lynch) who has been a good supporter of ours.

“Scott gave him a lovely ride, we go back a long way with him. He was coming into me as a kid and running around Dundalk with my own two lads. It's lovely for him to ride a winner for us.

“The horse was good and tough and stuck at it well.

“We found an issue why he wasn't jumping out of the stalls and we treated him. He's been great in the stalls for us but he did have issues before.

“I stuck him in the Rockingham and we'll see. Sometimes when you get those horses in winning form you can keep them going.

“He'll run away, he's a good money spinner and it's great to get his head in front.”