Ballyfinboy makes all under Sexton for Finn

Ballyfinboy made all as he took the Sunday In Summer Handicap Hurdle scoring under Kevin Sexton for trainer/owner/breeder Jimmy Finn.

The nine-year-old son of Great Palm won a handicap chase at Tramore on his penultimate start and he was a respectable eighth in the Connacht National at Roscommon last Monday.

Back over hurdles this afternoon he was backed from 11/2 to 4/1 on-course.

He went a few lengths clear after the second last and he was ridden out in the closing stages, scoring by four and a quarter lengths at the line. Exit Seven finished second at 12/1 under Conor Maxwell for Tom McCourt while Mystic Princess (4/1) was a neck back in third under Derek Fox for Mark McNiff. Broughtons Bandit was sent off the 9/4 favourite (was 7/4 this morning) but he could only manage a very disappointing fifth under Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott.

Jimmy Finn said afterwards: "The main plan is Galway, he won a chase there before. He'll not go hurdling again soon unless he comes back here. He seems to like it here and has won in Tramore as well.

"He just didn't get the trip in the Connacht National but ran well. He's taking his racing well for a big horse. It's good to keep the owner happy!"

Additional reporting by Michael Graham