Dream start for Dunne on Knockreigh

In the Cheltenham Festival winning colours of Dabiroun, the always well-regarded Knockreigh gave Harley Dunne his first winner on his very first ride in the Kilbeggan Races Patrons Club Maiden Hurdle.

A winning 'pointer' way back in October 2008, Knockreigh (a 25/1 chance this morning) went off at 16/1 in this weak heat on the back of two undistinguished efforts following a break and the eight-year-old obviously relished this quicker surface just four days after his Cork run to beat Macarthur (made a mistake three out).

Colin Bowe trains Knockreigh for fellow Wexford man Donal O'Gorman. He said: "This horse had been off for a while with an injury.

"It's great for the young lad. He's 17 and he started with me when he was 12. He was with Willie Mullins for a year as well."