Dara gets off the mark on 21st start Cluan Dara made the breakthrough on his 21st start, as he got the better of Hugo 'N Taz in the Fairyhouse.ie Maiden Hurdle. The John Ryan trained victor touched 4/1 on-course for this two mile seven furlong contest, eventually going off a 7/2 chance with Tommy Brett in the saddle. Settled in rear, the bay six-year-old improved into mid-division with just under a circuit to race, and came with his challenge between horses before the second last. He gained a narrow lead at that flight and while he was strongly pressed by Hugo 'N Taz (9/4fav) after the last, he battled back gamely close home to score by a head. Andrew Ring was aboard the runner-up for Denis Hogan, while Legal Lord (33/1) was another five and a half lengths back in third for Andrew Lynch and Seamus Neville. Ryan said afterwards: "That was grand. He's a nice horse. We'll skip Punchestown and wait for the likes of Ballinrobe and Sligo. "It was very frustrating after he finished second to Samcro as we thought he'd win a maiden hurdle nearly 12 months ago. "At least he's won at Fairyhouse and it was a nice pot. He's a brilliant jumper and is only a shell of a horse. The Scorpions take time mentally and physically but he'll be a nice horse for the summer. "He has a bit of class but made hard work of that and I think he got headed. Tom said he had loads left and he's a stayer. "He was also second to the horse that won earlier (Catwalk King) in a bumper. "We have his half-brother by Yeats and he's a lovely horse, a speedier and better sort." Additional reporting by Gary Carson
