End Makes the Perfect Start

Vincent Ward has got a great tune out of the ex-Moyglare Stud/Dermot Weld pair, Striking Force and End Of The Affair The latter made a successful jumping bow in the Slane Mares Maiden Hurdle under Andrew Lynch.

After a good day at Thurles on Thursday, this was another result for the layers in a race where the market centred around Pistol Flash (2/1) who finished a two and a half length second and Earth Mother (2/1 in the morning into even money) - a disappointing fifth.

Kilcock-based Ward said: "That's fantastic. I've only got six horses in training and when Andrew schooled her he told me she was a classy mare. My plan has been to train her for the big mares race in Punchestown and that's where she'll go." (EM)