Well backed Vinnie shows his toughness

Our Vinnie put in a determined display as he out battled his rivals to win the Grade 3, Paddy Power Phone 1800 721 821 EBF Novice Hurdle under Andrew Lynch for Charles Byrnes.

The well backed 5yo son of Vinnie Roe made all of the early running but was pressed and joined in the straight.

He was headed at the second last by Rule The World but he battled back and stayed on well on the run-in to lead again near the line and score by a head.

Rule The World, who looked the most likely winner before the last, had to settle for second under Davy Russell while Busty Brown ran very well to finish a further head back in third under Paul Carberry for Noel Meade at 3/1.

The winner opened at 5/1 with Paddy Powers overnight but that price was quickly snapped up and he opened on track at 11/4 before being backed into 9/4 favourite at the off.

Rule The World was the 6/4 favourite with Paddy Powers overnight but drifted all the way out to 3/1 at the off having opened at 5/2 on-course.

Charles Byrnes said afterwards: "He stuck at it well and all he does is stay. It wasn’t the plan to make the running but he had no choice.

"He will stick to staying novice hurdles now and the dream would be to go for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March. He will have to improve a lot from today.

"The ground was plenty heavy for him and he will be better on better ground. Today was a good pot to win and we have no immediate plans for him now."

After the race Eddie O'Connell was suspended for one day by the Stewards for using his whip with his arm above shoulder height aboard Free To Dream

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)