The Bull Hayes justified odds of 8/11 in the Enjoy An Evening At Tipperary Race, scoring a workmanlike three and a half length victory over Headford Flyer De Valira The Bull Hayes' main market-rival refused to race leaving Headford Flyer to emerge as the favourite's biggest danger. From over a furlong The Bull Hayes (completing a double for rider Fran Berry, won on Frontier Cabin earlier) stretched clear under pressure to score with the front-runner, Long Strand staying-on again to be a head back in third.
Johnny Harrington, husband of winning trainer, Jessica, said: "Jessica is on the way back on the ferry after getting stuck at Bristol airport. She was over selling Summit Meeting at the Cheltenham sale and thankfully he didn't sell and is coming back to us.
"In the end this fellow did it well. He is tough, he was gelded last year and that certainly changed his attitude. He is not well handicapped with a mark of 105 and as he has been schooled over hurdles that could be his job in the future."
Supporters of De Valira (there were plenty of them - 4/1 this morning into 11/4) had every right to feel aggrieved as the son of Shantou never looked likely to start and he was behind the other runners when the starter let them go.
There was no action taken after an enquiry, the Stewards deeming that De Valira was near enough to start.
