Theatre provides Brogan with first success as a conditional

Kevin Brogan recorded his first win as a conditional, as he guided Fine Theatre to victory in the Micheal O'Murchadha Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Without a win since March of 2016, the Paul Nolan trained victor was sent off a 16/1 chance in the colours of owner Kay Browne.

Prominent throughout, the nine-year-old gelding hit the front with just over a circuit to race, and soon went clear.

He was pushed along and headed before two out, but battled back tenaciously from the last, staying on best to prevail by three parts of a length. Brave Out (3/1fav), who won this race last year, hit the front from two out and looked set to score, however he couldn’t hold off the winner on the run-in, and had to settle for second under Denis O'Regan for John Kiely. Mount Hanover (14/1) completed the placings another half a length back in third, with Hugh Morgan aboard this one for Henry de Bromhead.

Brogan, who is eighteen and from Kill, said afterwards: "That’s my first winner as a conditional, I had one before as an amateur.

"I was expecting him to run well but coming around the bend into the straight I thought the lads had got me. To be fair to the horse he pulled out plenty.

“I work full time for Gordon Elliott and please God now I can keep it going."