Early Arrival makes the breakthrough under Callaghan

Early Arrival made the breakthrough on his 24th career start, as he claimed the first divide of the Anne Valley Walk Handicap Hurdle.

Placed four times when trained by Liam Casey, the Rule Of Law eight-year-old made his debut for Jimmy Barcoe at Clonmel in January.

Second on his penultimate start at Gowran, the Yvonne Hennessy owned bay was sent off a 6/1 chance this afternoon under 7lb claimer Kieran Callaghan.

Having raced in second, he got to the front after three out. Not fluent over the last two, he was tackled by Walk Out on the run-in, but pulled out more in the closing stages to prevail by half-a-length.

The runner-up was returned at 22/1 under Denis O’Regan for John Kiely, while Well Loved (17/2) was 13 lengths back in third. Bal Kauto was the gamble of the race, going off the 7/4 favourite from early shows of 7/1. Always towards rear, he never looked like threatening and eventually finished a never nearer sixth.

"That's not normally his way of racing but we tried something different today and thankfully it worked," the winning rider remarked.

"He didn't jump the last two great but he was never in front before so you couldn't blame him for that. When Denis (O'Regan on Walk Out) joined me after the last it actually helped me, he picked up again once he got a bit of company.

"It probably wasn't ideal being in front going to the second last but thankfully he got the job done and he'll learn loads from today.

"When he was in front he was just very lonely and was having a good look around. Once he was joined, he went on again and stuck his head down.

"The tactics worked today so we won't change them the next day. He had a tongue-tie back on him today and that helped too.

"His penultimate run was a really good run and it was a step down in grade today. We were confident of a big run and I'm delighted with that."