The Little Yank, near side, tussling with Persia at the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
The Little Yank got the measure of Persia in the Brewin Dolphin Rated Novice Hurdle at Ballinrobe to give John Ryan a double on the card.
Ryan's fine season continues apace as this 7/2 shot, from 5/1, won a protracted battle with the aforementioned Persia.
Persia, the 7/4 favourite, dictated under Mark Walsh but was closed upon by The Little Yank and Bryan Cooper racing to the final quarter of a mile.
Cooper's mount took a narrow lead before the last but Persia had the inner route and came back for more straightening for home.
The whips were drawn in the final furlong and it was The Little Yank who was strongest in the final 50 yards. The winning margin was half a length. Mars Harper was some 16 lengths away in third at 16/5.
Ryan said: Ryan said: "He deserved that. For a horse that won two bumpers it took him a long time to win over hurdles. He had ulcers and my daughter Gillian did serious work with him.
"I also want to thank the physio and everyone else who helped with him. We just needed to sort out his problems and we've done that now. Gillian also did loads of work with The Dara Man as well."
Ryan also scored in Ballinrobe today with The Dara Man in the Mayo News Maiden Hurdle.
The Stewards interviewed M.P. Walsh, rider of Persia, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, M.P. Walsh stated that he had used the whip twice down the shoulder to stop his mount leaning onto the rails while rounding the final bend. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards gave M.P. Walsh the benefit of the doubt in relation to the two hits for corrective purposes and found that the remaining hits did not breach R10, therefore they took no further action.
The Stewards interviewed B.J. Cooper, rider of The Little Yank, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, B.J. Cooper stated that his mount kept responding to his urgings but the long run in and the closeness of his challenger had contributed to him exceeding the permitted use of the whip. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that B.J. Cooper was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended B.J. Cooper for two race days.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
