Crafty finally gets it right

On his fifteenth career start, The Crafty Butcher finally got a win to his name as he took the Holy Thursday Maiden Hurdle over 2m 4f for his trainer Michael Hourigan.

The 6yo son of Vinnie Roe has some good efforts to his name in bumpers and over hurdles and on his eighth attempt over flights he justified favouritism under Ruby Walsh. Lady Boulea attempted to make all under Kevin Sexton for Billy Harney and turning into the straight she was still in front with Jewel Star and The Crafty Butcher on her outside.

Jewel Star travelled best approaching the second last but he found little off the bridle as The Crafty Butcher kicked on in between the last two and drew clear on the run-in to score by nine and a half lengths.

The Colm Murphy trained Jewel Star plugged on for second at 9/2 under Mark Walsh while Tudor Fashion took third at 4/1 under John Cullen for Darrell Deacon.

The winner was 9/4 this morning with Paddy Powers but opened on track at just 7/4 and was returned, the clear favourite, at that price.

Michael Hourigan said afterwards: "He shouldn’t have been a maiden coming here today. I thought he was a right horse at one stage but they would make liars out of you!

"He was a nose behind Our Vinnie at Naas in a bumper and the ground was fairly good that day. He got the first of the gluey type ground today.

"I will keep him going now but I’m not sure that he’ll go on rock hard ground."

The Liam Burke trained Vergalda was sent off the 3/1 second favourite but she was quickly pulled up injured before the seventh.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes