Stitches hammers Thurles rivals On outing number eight on the racecourse proper, John Joe Walsh's Nine Stiches, an eight-year-old son of Urban Ocean, gained his first win in fine style when running away with the thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle under Brian O'Connell. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned and Willie Mullins-trained 8/15 favourite Berry Des Aulmes had to settle for fourth place after racing freely early and making mistakes. Nine Stiches was always to the fore, the chestnut went clear after three out, and he was ridden to extend his advantage from before the last for an eased down twenty seven length verdict over Stuccodor. "Brian had been saying that he wanted to make plenty use of him but he probably made too much use and never looked back!," remarked Walsh. "I thought they went no gallop at Limerick and it didn't suit. I'll have to see what the handicapper does now but he'll go chasing next year. That's the first winner for his owner, Sean Quirke, a farmer from Charleville." (TW & EM)
