Fernhurst makes winning switch

Dual point-to-point winner Fernhurst Lad made a winning 'track' debut when landing the Demense Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.

Mikey O'Connor produced the Aahsaylad gelding to challenge going to the second last in the two-and-a-half mile contest.

Debbie Hartnett 's charge settled down to fight it out with Caddy Man from the penultimate flight and the pair were locked together at the last.

Caddy Man, a morning gamble from 20/1 into 8/1, got it wrong at the final flight and that may just have been the difference as Fernhurst Lad asserted on the run-in to record a two-length victory.

The winner had come into this on the back of a recent success in a winners' of one at Nenagh and had took his maiden at Dromahane back in November.

"He's so easy to train you wouldn't even know he's in the yard," said Hartnett afterwards.

"He's won two point-to-points and today's win was like winning the Grand National for us.

"Hurdling is not his forte but we thought he'd be good enough to win a maiden hurdle.

"He was green throughout but the pace was much quicker than in his point-to-points.

"We'll go for a winners' hurdle but he's an out-and-out chaser without a doubt. He's only six though and we don't want to push him.

"He'll get three miles and this is his ground. He's improving."

It was a third winner 'on the track' for Hartnett, who has a small yard of 13 boxes in Donaghmore in County Cork.