Sky blows over rivals

Hurricane Sky successfully reverted back to the Flat following a couple of outings over hurdles to open his account in division one of the mile handicap at Gowran Park.

Fran Berry was hard at work on the J P McManus owned gelding in the straight but the 6/1 chance responded well and got on top inside the final 100 yards to ultimately record a cosy length and a quarter verdict over Only Exception (10/1). Smoke Charger (9/1) could find no extra another half-length away in third, with Zelos Dream (28/1) completing the placings in fourth.

The well-backed 7/2 favourite Confident Cub could only keep on onepaced in sixth.

Winning trainer Charles O’Brien said, “He came up against a good one in Ballinrobe last year, and deserved to get his head in front. He’s big and backward and it took ages for the penny to drop both mentally and physically.

“We’ll keep him going over the summer and mix it up with him. That’s his level, he’s no star but he’ll pay his way.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson