He's Home Again and Philip Byrnes win the Mallow Commercials CVRT Test Centre Handicap Hurdle from Rochestown© Photo Healy Racing
Jockey Philip Byrnes was back in the winners' enclosure after the Edward Cawley trained He's Home Again kept on best to land the Mallow Commercials CVRT Test Centre Handicap Hurdle at Cork.
Despite being pulled up on two of his last three starts, the Mount Nelson gelding was sent off at 6/1 to record a first success in nine outings.
Never far from the pace, Byrnes moved closer three out before taking over from leader Rochestown at the second last. The latter horse rallied for a few strides but had no more to offer on the run-in as the Cawley trained runner went clear to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths.
Winning trainer Edward Cawley said "We were kicking ourselves as we pulled Catch The Beast out of a race at (local) Fairyhouse which, it turns out, would have suited him better than coming here today. You make those choices but I wouldn't have brought He's Home Again down here, if he was my only runner!
"He had his best run here in a maiden hurdle when I didn't fancy him at all but ran well in it so maybe it is horses-for-courses, on a flat track.
"He was very disappointing at Leopardstown but it was very heavy ground and it's not as bad here. He's no superstar but I'm happy to get a win with him and it made the trip worthwhile."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
