McManus colours dominate in Labrokes Hurdle

Owner JP McManus dominated in the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Leopardstown this afternoon, as his colours filled the first three places in the €125,000 handicap.

It was last year's winner Off You Go who came out on top when flashing home in the closing stages to get up under Mark Walsh for a length success.

Former Champion Hurdler Jezki and former Triumph Hurdle winner Ivanonich Gorbatov battled it out from the furlong marker with Jezki just getting on top in the closing stages.

He was trumped near the line, however, by the Charles Byrnes-trained Off You Go who flew home at the death to land back-to-back successes in the two-mile contest.

Byrnes said:- “He was a bit further back than we would have liked but he settled him beautifully through the race. They sprinted and he came home strong.

“He’s a good horse to win off that weight today.

“We’ll probably stick him in the County Hurdle and the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, and it’s up to the Martinstown team then what they want to do.

“He will go over fences next season.”

(Gary Carson & Alan Magee)