Barwell and Donagh Meyler (far-side) move on from Panther Soul and Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Some slight mistakes aside, there was an impressive debut over flights from Barwell (5/1) in the Casey Concrete Blocks Maiden Hurdle at Wexford.
Ruby Walsh, in a preview of the race, wasn't overly keen on the chances of 4/11 chance, Panther Soul and how right he was as Willie Mullins' charge had to settle for third under Paul Townend. Secret Cargo chased Barwell home, but Alan Fleming's charge was much the best under Donagh Meyler, prevailing by ten lengths.
Winning owner Barry Connell said: "He has taken the skin off his back leg there and it looks nasty. He caught a swinging hurdle at the second last. Hopefully he will be alright.
"We bought him and we were going to go juvenile hurdling with him last year but it's lucky we didn't as he grew. He was 16.1 and a half when we got him, and he is 16.3 now. He is a big horse and does everything easily.
"We thought he'd go and win today. Hopefully this isn't anything too serious. If we can patch him up and get him back in one piece I think he could be fairly smart.
"The horse in front wasn't doing him much favours, he was running around in front of him. Our lad has a big long stride and he (Meyler) didn't want it to turn into a sprint so he said he'd let him go on when he did."
(DM & EM)
