de Bromhead off the mark at local festival

The Frank Gillane Handicap Hurdle went to the 9/4 favourite Withallduerespect in the hands of 7lb claimer Mike O’Connor.

The daughter of Mahler had been third on her previous two outings and, having raced handily, took up the lead after the third-last flight of hurdles.

She went clear before the next and stayed on well on the rain-softened ground (going description changed to soft after this race) to win by six and a half lengths from Tagg’s Island (4/1).

It was a seventeenth winner of the campaign for O’Connor.

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead (first winner at this year's festival) said: "I'm delighted with that and I'm delighted for the lads (One In The Barrell Syndicate) as they have been really patient with the mare.

"She showed us plenty last year but was disappointing so it's great to get her back and see her win one of these, she has been close a couple of times.

"It's nice to get a winner here and Mikey was great on her. She might possibly be better going the other way. She seems to hang towards the end of the race. There is no sign of it until the last furlong or so, she looks fine before that.

"We will look at options for her. She jumps so well and there is a beginners' chase at Downpatrick in September that we might look at. We will look at Listowel as well, I'll chat with the lads."

Quotes from Donal Murphy