McCarthy on the mark with cheap buy Directional

Directional who was bought by Eoin McCarthy for just 800 pounds at Tattersalls in July of 2016, came out on top in the Greville Arms Hotel Mullingar Handicap Hurdle.

Previously trained in the UK, the son of Raven's Pass won a point-to-point on his sixth start for McCarthy at Ballingarry earlier this month.

Available at 16/1 this morning, the bay six-year-old opened on-course at 14s before going off a 10/1 chance in the colours of the Tingle Syndicate.

Settled in second by Kevin Brouder, he improved to lead before the last and despite an awkward jump there, he kept on well under pressure on the run-in to score by three parts of a length. Dorking (33s to 25s) ran on well to take second, while top-weight Bomber Jackson (20/1) was a neck back in third. Seaboard (28/1) completed the places nine lengths away in fourth, with the 5/1 favourite Cher Why Not another neck back in fifth.

McCarthy said afterwards: "I picked him up for 800 at Ascot two years ago and I'm delighted for the lads (Tingle Syndicate from North Kerry) who have been very patient.

"He won a point-to-point by ten lengths the last day and that made a man of him. He loves that good ground.

"I've seven in training at present. Things are going fairly well at the moment and I'm looking at expanding."

STEWARDS REPORTS

M.J. Bolger, rider of Askcalie trained by M. Keane, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having made a noise in running.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Cher Why Not trained by Timothy Doyle was found to have heat stress post race.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee