“It's grand to get his head in front” was the understated first thoughts of racing manager Frank Berry at Ballinrobe today after the J.P. McManus owned Thecraicisninety landed a sizeable gamble, by a short-head, in the Mayo News Maiden Hurdle.

The son of Presenting was a 30 lengths winner of his debut point to point in 2015 and while he failed to win in ten subsequent racecourse outings, today delivered the goods, having been backed from 12/1 this morning, to an opening show of 5/1 on track, before returning the 7/2 joint-second-favourite.

Ridden by Mark Walsh, Thecraicisninety held off the challenges of Kolumbus early on the run-in, and then runner-up Zaofu in the closing stages, to record a short-head win.

Berry added "we've been a while waiting and it's nice for Padraig (Roche, winning trainer) who had him in good old shape.

"He battled well today which we had a question mark against him a few times.

"He's settled down a little bit now and we'll find something similar down the road for him. We'll be ducking Galway and finding something a bit easier.

"He's run in a few chases so he could easily switch to that game."

Quotes from Eamonn Murphy