McKenna off the mark

It mightn't live long in the memory for most but for Liam McKenna the Mobile Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick will never be forgotten as it marked the occasion of his first winner as he triumphed on 10/1 shot Yachvili

McKenna is a step-son of the winning trainer, Jimmy Lambe. He's from Blackwatertown in County Armagh and he's just turned seventeen. Having twenty five flapping winners under his belt, the teenager has had twenty seven or eight rides over hurdles and five on the flat. He still claims ten on the level.

After Yachvili had beaten Rudigreen by half a length, Lambe revealed: "This is a special day. I own and train the horse and now my step-son has had his first winner on him.

"Monica, his mother, will be very proud. We're trying to learn him his trade and his future is over jumps.

"This horse has been a good servant. I didn't give him much of a chance on that ground but Liam gave him a good ride.

"He's a tricky customer so Liam did it well. He works hard, he schools over fences and hurdles and he does all I ask. All the bollocking he gets is justified now!"

Meanwhile the man of the moment himself said: "It felt good to get the first winner. Hopefully I'll get a few more rides now. I always thought I was going to get there and I came up on the outside for the good ground as he's a good ground horse." (MG & EM)