Whispers rattles home to complete McManus/Walsh double

Waterford Whispers came with a rattling late run to claim the Close Brothers Rated Novice Hurdle, completing a double for JP McManus and Mark Walsh.

Seventh on debut in April, the Westerner gelding made the breakthrough on his next start at Galway and was sent off a well-supported 4/1 chance (from 11/2) this afternoon.

Given a patient ride, the Henry de Bromhead-trained victor was pushed along in fifth before two out but jumped the last in third and really powered home from there, hitting the front inside the final 150 yards before going on to score by a length-and-three-quarters.

The Terence O'Brien-trained Answer To Kayf (5/1 from 15/2) looked set to score on clearing the last but he ultimately couldn't hold off the winner and had to settle for second under John Shinnick.

The front pair were five lengths in front of Luminous Light (28/1), while Redstone (7/4f from 9/4) could only manage a disappointing sixth.

"It was hard to weigh him up after Galway," Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus, commented.

"Mark said it was a messy old race but he jumped quite well and picked up well going to the last. He looked in a bit of trouble early in the straight and is still learning on the job.

"It was a good performance and he quickened up well at the back of the last.

"He's a big lad that will jump a fence in time. You'd be very pleased with him."

Walsh and McManus earlier claimed the opener with Corbetts Cross

Additional reporting by Alan Magee