Honkytonktennessee wins on his debut

Honkytonktennessee made a successful debut in the bumper at Limerick, the Greenmount Summer Fun INH Flat Race, under Kevin Power for Charlie Swan.

Sent off the 3/1 joint-favourite (opened on-course at 9/4), he chased the leaders for much of the contest before taking closer order approaching the straight.

He was ridden to challenge a furlong and a half from home, soon hitting the front and he stayed on well from there to record a two length victory. Shes Tensixtysix went off the other joint-favourite (backed on-course from 4/1) and she finished second under Pa King on her first start for Harry Kelly (formerly trained by Willie Mullins). Powerful Action ran a nice race on his debut to take third, a further length back under James Carroll for Joseph Quinn at 33/1.

Charlie Swan said afterwards: "He has never been on grass and he has never been away from home, but he had being showing us so much at home.

"He has so much speed but he didn’t really know what to do when he got to the front.

"He jumps really well and I think he is the first jumps winner in Ireland for Scorpion.

"Knowing the boys (his owners) he will probably go to Doncaster next week, but I would love to keep him."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes