Hourigan junior gets in on the act

The Michael Hourigan junior trained Cut The Corner ran out a surprise 16/1 winner of the Comeragh Veterinary Handicap Hurdle, providing the Hourigan family with a double on the card (His father Michael senior won the previous contest with Magical Moon .

Ridden by Adrian Heskin the six-year-old son of Vinnie Roe was prominent throughout and was ridden to dispute before the second last.

He asserted at the last and he kept on well on the run-in to score by a length and three parts. Coldstonesober ran on well to take second at 13/2 under Shane Shortall for Jimmy Finn while Royal Chief (6/1jfav) was a further half a length back in third under Jonathan Burke for Eoin Doyle. Key Account was the other joint-favourite but he proved disappointing and finished thirteenth under Jody McGarvey for Lar Byrne.

Hourigan, who is based in Rathkeale, said afterwards: "That’s my first winner in a long time (May 12th 2009). I spent two years without the licence though and only took it out again around this time last year.

"I’m happy with this fellow and he has just learned his trade really. This was just his sixth run and he has just got better and better.

"In today’s race they all looked like they had holes in them but my fella is probably an improving horse.

"I’ve about five or six for the track. I’ve had two seconds out of my last couple of runners and my father beat me there in Ballinrobe recently, he could have gone somewhere else with that horse!"