McManus' Thecraicisninety lands gamble

“It's grand to get his head in front” was the understated first thoughts of racing manager Frank Berry at Ballinrobe today after the J.P. McManus owned Thecraicisninety landed a sizeable gamble, by a short-head, in the Mayo News Maiden Hurdle.

The son of Presenting was a 30 lengths winner of his debut point to point in 2015 and while he failed to win in ten subsequent racecourse outings, today delivered the goods, having been backed from 12/1 this morning, to an opening show of 5/1 on track, before returning the 7/2 joint-second-favourite.

Ridden by Mark Walsh, Thecraicisninety held off the challenges of Kolumbus early on the run-in, and then runner-up Zaofu in the closing stages, to record a short-head win.

Berry added "we've been a while waiting and it's nice for Padraig (Roche, winning trainer) who had him in good old shape.

"He battled well today which we had a question mark against him a few times.

"He's settled down a little bit now and we'll find something similar down the road for him. We'll be ducking Galway and finding something a bit easier.

"He's run in a few chases so he could easily switch to that game."

Quotes from Eamonn Murphy