Barry & Vinnie all the way at Sligo

Barry Cash, a bit unfortunate when almost unseated from Lizzie Bennett at Roscommon on Monday night, got nice compensation when giving Vinnie (10s into 13/2) a great ride to land the Join The 2011 Sligo Race Supporters Club Handicap Hurdle.

Cash conjured some mighty leaps from the son of Tiraaz up front and the 13/2 shot kept going gamely on the run-in to hold the patiently handled favourite, Old Theatre Royal by a length.

Willie Murphy trains Vinnie for Patrick Kennedy who also bred the eight-year-old and he is from Arles in County Laois. Of course Murphy himself stood the stallion Tiraaz at his Ballycurragh Stud in County Carlow.

The delighted winning trainer said: "It was a great ride by Barry. The horse has had three operations for his wind but he kept going well. We have twelve horses for the point-to-point season and we needed that winner to reassure the owners that they were healthy."