Flanking Maneuver galloped on strongly to run out an impressive winner of the concluding bumper at Downpatrick this afternoon, completing a treble on the card for trainer Noel Meade.

The Gigginstown gelding was a well backed 6/5 favourite (2/1 in morning) in the extended two-mile-two contest having shown ability in a couple of strong bumpers last year.

Finny Maguire tracked the leaders on the Beat Hollow gelding before letting him slide into the lead five furlongs from home.

He asked his mount for an effort passing the two pole and he responded well, stretching out to record a eight-length win over market rival Corran Cross (11/8).

Meade said: “He has matured well and has been working very well at home. He didn’t surprise me doing that. I don’t know how good a bumper it was but he did it well.

“He jumps well, so he’ll go jumping. He’ll be a hurdler for the season I would imagine.

“The horses are flying but I never take it for granted.”

And on Finny Maguire, he added: “We are happy with that, that’s great to get our hands on him. He came down to us about last year or the year before.

“Mark (O’Hare) arrived and got in before him and only for that Finny would have started at that time.

“As soon as Mark retired Finny was on the phone and I said ‘it sounds good to me’.”

(Quotes by Michael Graham)