Burrenbridge springs a surprise in opener

The opening race on a bumper eight race card at Roscommon this evening, the Railway Bar 3yo Maiden Hurdle, the first juvenile hurdle of the season, went to the Kieran Purcell trained, Tom Doyle ridden, Burrenbridge Lodge at 20/1.

The 5/2 favourite Why But Why looked a certain winner on the run to the last, for Jessica Harrington and Barry Geraghty but he reached for that flight and drifted left on the run-in, allowing the winner, who also reached for the last, come up his inside and pull off an unlikely win.

Three parts of a length separated the two at the line with a further two and a half lengths back to the third, Whatever It Takes at 4/1.

The winning son of Ivan Denisovich started off his career with Patrick Cody before moving to his current yard after his finishing third on his debut at Gowran in July of last year.

He was since placed twice for Purcell at Leopardstown and Bellewstown respectively but disappointed over on a mile on his last two outings.

Burrenbridge Lodge is a half brother to his stablemate Ainm Spartacus who also won a 3yo Hurdle last season at Gowran before following up at Limerick in March of this year.

The winning owners, the Big Five Syndicate have tasted plenty of success in the past with Paddy Pub and Smokey Joe Joe, who have won eight races on the track between them.

Winning trainer Kieran Purcell said afterwards: "He was one of the top rated on the flat in the field.

"I was afraid of his jumping. He hadn't been schooling well. Tom (Doyle) schooled him on Saturday and he wasn't that good.

"He jumped well today and can only improve from this." Roman Flight who was sent off the 6/1 fourth best in the market, almost refused at the first before unshipping his rider David Casey at that flight.

Donal Murphy