Rakhine State just prevails in tight finish

Rakhine State got punters back on track after a shock in the opener when landing the odds in the Derrygrath Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

The six-year-old gelding was sent off the 9/10 favourite in this two-mile event having been placed here both in a bumper and over hurdles in the past, and had just struck the front when making a blunder at the penultimate flight.

He soon asserted and was much better at the last but needed a strong drive from Davy Russell in the closing stages to just hold off Weihnachts

A fast-diminishing short-head separated the pair at the line, with Castlebellingham three lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said, "His jumping let him down at times but it is nice he won. It is great for his owners who live in New York and have a few horses with us. They are good supporters of the yard and haven't had much luck so it's great to win for them.

"He is a horse who you'll see running in the north of England soon."

(TW & AM)