Brideswell delivers under patient Hayes ride

Just touched off at Wexford last month, Brideswell Lad went a place better this afternoon in the Comeragh Veterinary Maiden Hurdle.

Trained in Co Wexford by Seamus Neville, the son of Shirocco is a half-brother to Cloth Cap who won the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase (formerly the Hennessy) at Newbury last year.

Held up towards rear by Brian Hayes, the five-year-old was kept to the wide outside, making steady progress on the final circuit.

In a share of the lead before two out, he got to the front shortly after that flight and kept on well from there to score by five-and-a-half lengths. Gateau De Miel (8/1 from 20s early) ran a fine race to take second under Darragh O’Keeffe for Henry de Bromhead, while Return Fire (7/2 from 9s early) was another three lengths back in third. Courting Flow was sent off the 85/40 favourite and he finished fourth.

"If he is as good as his half-brother he will be okay!” Neville quipped.

"He was barely touched off in Wexford where it didn't go to plan for him, he needed to be held up and it worked better here today.

"The ground has cut up quite a bit so Brian kept him wide for the better ground. It's a big change from what it was at the time of declaration but we've been waiting to get a run into him and just took our chance.

"I've no real plan for him, I'll take a look at a winners of one or see where we are in the handicap with him. He has a couple of point-to-point runs and jumping will be his game. He'll probably stay over hurdles this season."