Mate runs out facile winner

My Great Mate won as you'd expect a 1/11 shot to do, when scoring in facile fashion in the Hankook Pearse Rd Tyres Maiden Hurdle at Sligo.

Paul Townend tracked Marlpark on the hotpot in the early stages before sending his mount to the front with a circuit to run in the two-and-a-half mile contest.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding went clear running down to the fourth last flight and the race was soon over as he cantered to a 31-length success.

My Great Mate had been placed on his first two outings over timber, most recently when third at Galway late last month.

Townend said: "He was entitled to do that. I was happy to take a lead when Sean (O'Keeffe, on Marlpark) was keen early and we took it off him with a lap to go.

"It was straightforward, he backed up his run at Galway and jumped brilliant.

"He'd won on similar ground and we thought he'd handle these conditions."

(Quotes by Mark Nunan)