Darwin now has Troytown in his sights

After winning over fences at Navan in September, the Alan Fleming trained Hurricane Darwin followed-up in the www.grahamnorris.com Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Upped in trip to three miles for the first time today, the son of Westerner was sent off a 5/1 chance with Denis O'Regan in the saddle.

Settled towards rear, the Barry Connell trained seven-year-old was still in rear on the approach to the straight.

He closed right up on the leaders before two out, and got to the front on the run-in, going on to score comfortably by three and three parts of a length. Hollow Tree who was returned the 6/4 favourite (from 7/4), finished second under Davy Russell for Gordon Elliott, while Glendine River (25/1) was half a length back in third, with Brian Hayes in the saddle for Dermot O'Brien.

Fleming said afterwards: "That's going to leave him spot on for the Troytown and I think he's going to be competitive in it too. He's a horse that is improving and we're happy where he is now.

"It was his first time running over three miles but you're never afraid of running them over three miles with Denis, as he drops them in lovely and he said he was always going to win.

"Denis gives those horses great confidence and three miles in the Troytown, dropped in with a strong pace and ridden like that, will suit him. He's back on the right road now."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Small World trained by Peter Fahey, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes