Different Strokes wins on rules debut

Different Strokes was left clear at the last to win the claiming hurdle in Clonmel at odds of 28/1.

Different Strokes and Think Positive had the race to themselves as they moved clear turning for home.

Six-year-old gelding Different Strokes held a very narrow advantage jumping two out but Think Positive was on terms at the last where he blundered and unseated Eoin O'Connell (both horse and jockey okay).

Different Strokes jumped it well under Barry John Foley and came in by 25 lengths. Tiger Twenty Two plodded on for second at 8/1 by 13 lengths from Hill Of Hope (28/1).

Mike Kelleher, brother of trainer Ger Kelleher, said: "We ran him in point-to-points and he was very consistent but wasn't a point=to-pointer. We threw him in here out of curiosity and it killed the cat didn't it!

"He is a nice type, jumps and travels and that's the first time he got a bit of nice ground."

Different Strokes had been unplaced in six point-to-points. He was claimed for €7,000 by Robert Conway to be trained by Mrs Cathy O'Leary. Beyond The Law went off a well backed 4/6 favourite but was pulled up.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes