Westerner follows up on handicap debut

Westerner Point followed up on his recent maiden hurdle success at Clonmel as he took the St Patrick's Day Novice Handicap Hurdle under Phillip Enright for Eoghan O'Grady.

Sent off the 4/1 second favourite the six-year-old son of Westerner was prominent in the early stages before hitting the front on the approach to the third.

He travelled best from before the last and when ridden on the run-in he kept on well to score comfortably by three lengths. Mick The Boyo ran on well to take second at 16/1 under Kevin Sexton for James Grace while Do Try Dolly (10/1) was a further three parts of a length back in third under Paddy Kennedy for Paul Fahey. Dave's Stamper was sent off the 7/2 favourite but he could only manage sixth under Shane Shortall for Shane Nolan.

Arthur O'Grady, father of Eoghan, and a member of the Thade Quill Syndicate (winning owners) said afterwards: "He might come back here for a handicap hurdle over two and a half miles on April 10th."

"I'd say he will appreciate the step up in trip. He has had two runs in a short space of time so he will have longer now before his next run."