Placed for the first time on his previous outing at Perth, Brownstone (4/1) got a first win on the board when taking the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Kieren Buckley.

Ridden in fourth after the second-last, the Yeats gelding went second on the run-in and stayed on well to lead close home for a two and a quarter length victory over Depeche Mo

Formerly with Michael Winters, the seven-year-old is trained by Ian Donoghue for the Brownstone Cowboys Syndicate. 

“We're very happy with him and we were confident coming here,” said Donoghue. 

“The English handicapper gave him 8lb last week going to Perth, he's only small and the ground turned too soft for him. 

“It worked out ideal as Sean Bowen didn't kill him and we had this in the back of our minds for him. 

“He's a tough little horse and there is a race at the end of the month in Wexford for him, left-handed. He does hang badly and Kieren was good and strong on him, so hopefully he'll be better going left-handed as well. 

“He's funny, he can boil over. We brought him into the ring late as he boiled over in Kilbeggan but still finished fifth and ran a great race. He's a funny little horse and you have to mind him a bit. 

“That's his third run for us, it's fifth, third and won now so it's job done. It's a new syndicate to the yard and they are delighted so it's great.” 

Quotes from Gary Carson