Brennan & Slevin on the mark with Brian

Our Brian got off the mark on his fourth start over flights, as he sprang a surprise in the opener at Downpatrick, the Downpatrick Family Fun Day Maiden Hurdle.

Successful in a point-to-point at Tinahely last October, the John Brennan trained six-year-old ran a fine race to finish third on his racecourse debut at Wexford.

He disappointed on his most recent start at Bettyville, and he was sent off a 16/1 chance this afternoon with JJ Slevin in the saddle.

Prominent in the early stages, he was settled behind the leaders and dropped to sixth before the third last.

He was pushed along after the next and made good progress into second before the final flight, hitting the front when ridden on the run-in, going on to score by two and three parts of a length. Man Of Conquest finished second at 13/2 under Mikey Fogarty for Des McDonogh, while French Ambassador (10/3) was a further four lengths back in third under under Ricky Doyle for Conor O'Dwyer. Atlantic Breaker was sent off the 9/4 favourite and he was another three parts of a length back in fourth under Derek Fox for Mark McNiff.

Brennan, who was recording his first track success since July 2009, wasn't present as he is on holidays.

　

Winning owner Tom Power, who along with the trainer and rider is also from Wexford, said afterwards: "It was four hours up here and it'll be a bit shorter going back!

"We ran him in Wexford and he was after a break off. Maybe three miles was a bit too long. They went a good pace and the horse that won it (Red Giant) won again in Kilbeggan.

"We said we would drop back. When he was third in Wexford it was over two miles up the hill.

"He wants good ground, he won a point-to-point on good ground. Good ground is the key and in Wexford it rained a good bit and it was more yielding down the far side and it was cutting when we walked it.

"The plan worked today. JJ knows him and seven pound is a lot to take off him. JJ is on fire at the minute. He is doing everything right."

　

JJ Slevin is based with Nigel Twiston-Davies in England and is back for the summer (based with his cousin Joseph O'Brien in Piltown).

Additional reporting by Michael Graham