Off The Mark back on track

Paddy Kennedy (suspected broken leg) aboard Quelle Belle Vie was kicked at the start, by Amant D'or necessitating his mounts withdrawal from the Tullamore Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan. This race went off ten minutes late and it eventually fell the way of Christy Roche's uneasy 5/6 favourite Off The Mark

We hadn't seen this son of High Chaparral, since a bumper second placing in March 2014, but he's obviously pretty classy, as he convincingly disposed of Credulous here, under Jody McGarvey, by three and three parts of a length.

"That was nice. He jumped away well and it was straight-forward," said winning owner J P McManus' racing manager Frank Berry.

"He's had his problems and that was why he was out for so long. He had back issues and niggly problems that kept him out.

"Touch wood he's back in good form and he'll (Roche) be delighted with the way he jumped.

"He'll probably go the handicap route and it's nice to see him back."

(MG & EM)