Splaine on the mark with Vinnie

David Splaine has endured a tough time over the past six months or so but he made a welcome return to the winners enclosure when partnering top-weight Hes Our Vinnie to success in the Bet Now On Every Cheltenham Race At Coral.ie Handicap Hurdle at Limerick.

Splaine was sidelined for five months after breaking his right leg in a fall at Kilbeggan last September, and was enjoying his first success here since returning to action last month.

The Terence O’Brien-trained gelding was up with the pace throughout, and the 7/1 chance showed great reserves of stamina in this three-mile affair after meeting the second last wrong.

He galloped on strongly from that point to beat the well-backed 15/8 favourite The Grey Guy by eight lengths, with Change The Rules another half-length back in third.

O'Brien said, "I don't know what the problem was but he was really disappointing the last 12 months. I always thought he should be fairly decent but he seems to have come to himself now.

"His owners (Martin and Mary Fleming) should have plenty more fun with him and he's a big horse who will run away for the summer. He'll go chasing at some stage but will go for another handicap hurdle next."

(TW & AM)