Barney pleases his supporters

Denis Cullen saddled his second winner as a trainer when the well-backed Little Barney (8s in the morning into 7/2) made all under Andrew Lynch in the Racing Again at Naas on 3rd January Maiden Hurdle.

The Turtle Island gelding held off the promising newcomer, The Hard Hat by three parts of a length. His fellow Colm Murphy-trained stable-companion, Gates Of Rome was a further six lengths back in third. Favourite, Empire Theatre could manage only ninth.

Cullen was a happy man afterwards and he said: "I'm delighted with him. He is an improving sort, the ground and the trip suited him there. We'll pick up a bit of experience with him and he'll go chasing next year.

"As he'll get older he'll get stronger. He's just a big baby at the moment and he needs more experience."