Bear opens hurdling account in good style

Byerley Bear looked a nice prospect when when beating a couple of useful rivals on his hurdling debut at Cork today.

Andrew Lynch, completing a double after the victory of Sublimity produced the Exit To Nowhere gelding to lead at the last and score by a length-and-a-quarter from the well-backed King Of The Refs (3/1 in morning into 6/4f).

The Willie Mullins-trained Johnny McGeeney (easy to back at 13/8) was a well-beaten third, 17 lengths back.

The runner-up had tried to stretch his rivals after hitting the front four out but had no answer to the late charge of Henry de Bromhead's gelding.

The winner, making just his third start, was following up on a bumper success at the course here last month.

"I'm delighted with that. I recommended him to the owner (Herb Stanley) after he won his bumper here," said De Bromhead afterwards.

"He stays well and jumps great and will want further in time. Andrew was very pleased with him and gave him a lovely ride.

"He'll go for a novice next and will be better on better ground as well as stepping up in trip.

"I thought it was going to be a bleak Christmas until this win as I've had a lot of seconds."

Byerley Bear is a half-brother to the useful Ross Moff, who was a dual Grade 2 winner over hurdles for Tony Martin.

Gary Carson