West Away asserted in the closing stages to claim the concluding novice handicap hurdle at Cork this afternoon.

The John McConnell-trained gelding was mid-division on his return to action at Punchestown in October and went to post a 10/1 shot this afternoon.

Ben Harvey produced his mount to challenge three from home and the Westerner gelding gained a narrow lead from Gold Haven running to the last flight.

The five-year-old galloped on well to the line to record a two-and-a-quarter length win.

Harvey said afterwards:- "Stepping up in trip seems to have brought out the best in him and he loved that slower ground. It has taken him a while to put things together as he was immature and hopefully can build on that.

"He was second in an English point-to-point bumper so it was a good purchase by John to buy him cheaply (for £7,000).

“We had a few disappointments in recent weeks but had plenty of moderate flat horses to run. They seem to have come back to themselves now and hopefully we'll get more winners."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)