Brave Troop brings up a gamble

Brave Troop brought up a gamble in the concluding 80-95 handicap hurdle at Thurles under a confident James Smith.

He was having his first run for his fourth trainer, Charles Byrnes, and was the subject of support from as big as 7/1 in the ring down to 11/4 favourite.

He was noted making good headway approaching the home bend and Smith brought him to catch a trio of horses at the last.

Once it was popped, the five-year-old gelding went on his merry way and sealed the first prize by five lengths.

The places were occupied by Oakley (22/1), Prince Quattro (4/1) and Newport at 33/1.

The trainer was represented by his son, Cathal Byrnes, who said: "The main thing was to get over his last (hurdle) run when he fell (at Gowran Park in September last year), but he got him around nicely and he settled.

"We were fortunate to get this type of ground in November, so we'll probably tip away on the all-weather for the rest of the year."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes