Gurteen wins opener with Min-imum of fuss

The Robert Tyner trained Gurteen gave the form of Willie Mullins' Supreme Novices Hurdle favourite Min a boost when readily landing the opening 2016 Navan Membership Maiden Hurdle at Navan today.

Four to six favourite Gurteen, a Bumper winner at Leopardstown over Christmas, was ridden today by Philip Enright and showed a fine turn of foot from the second last flight to easily defeat De Plotting Shed

Prior to his Leopardstown Bumper win, Gurteen was well held by Min at Punchestown in December and following today's win Tyner said “he travelled and jumped well and did it well.

“He looks like he could be among the best I've had. He has plenty of size and there are plenty of chasers in the family, which goes back to my Paddy Power winner Call Me Dara.”

He added “the last hurdle was a long way out today but Philip (Enright) copped that on the way down. There was about a furlong-and-a-half of a run-in.

“I haven't looked beyond today with him but he'll go for a little novice hurdle in about three weeks time.

“He's a real nice moving horse and would prefer better ground. We were hoping for a drop of rain but being the first race thought we might get away with it.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson