Cats on top at Listowel

Still with their chance at senior level, the black and amber had a night to forget at the hands of Clare in the U21 hurling decider on Saturday night. However there was a dominant performance for the Cats at Listowel as Rower/Inistioge native Tom Doyle (won here on Mackey Boy yesterday) in the black and yellow stripes of the Big Five Syndicate, blitzed the opposition on Burrenbridge Lodge in the featured Listowel Races Supporters Club Lartigue Hurdle.

Burrenbridge Lodge has a touch of class as evidenced by his Grade 2 success at Fairyhouse back in February.

Here he made his ground from mid-field three out and he led before the next. Gone on from before the last, the 11/1 victor (from 12s) made a slight mistake at the final flight before going on to easily see off Mulleady by five and a half lengths.

Amazingly Burrenbridge Lodge has clashed with the top-weight here, One Cool Shabra on eleven occasions. Oliver Brady's front-runner faded into fifth this time.

Kieran Purcell trains Burrenbridge Lodge in Windgap, County Kilkenny and he commented: "I didn't think he'd handle the ground. I was afraid of my life of the ground though he did win on it at Gowran.

"I thought Tom was a bit easy on him as he likes to be ridden handier. Tom knows him best though.

"He travelled fierce well and he went away well at the finish. He'll stay hurdling and we don't have any immediate plan for him.

"He ran a cracker at Tipp (5th behind Rebel Fitz) last time." (DM & EM)