Medicinal springs surprise for the McNamara's

The opening race at Roscommon this evening, the Athleague Maiden Hurdle, went to the 16/1 shot Medicinal Compound for the the father and son team of rider Emmet and trainer Eric McNamara.

The 5yo son of Dr Fong was having just his second start for McNamara after coming from Kevin Ryan's yard in the UK.

He won two on the level for Ryan and last time out he made his hurdling debut at Clonmel where he finished a well beaten eighth behind Dreaming On (runs in the next race) over 2m 4f last month.

Dropped back in trip to two miles today, he chased the leaders early on, well behind Two Euro Luck who attempted to make all on his debut.

The winner was a moderate fifth approaching the straight but closed after the third last and hit the front on the run to the last.

He kept on well from there to beat the even money favourite Tepalo for Barry Geraghty and Tony Martin by two lengths.

The favourite jumped left at many hurdles and had has chance on the run-in but just couldn’t match the winner.

Another Tony Martin trained runner Mulleady stayed on to take third a further five lengths back at 33/1 under Paul Townend.

The winner was purchased for just 2,500 guineas at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale at Newmarket last October and is a half-brother to the Willie McCreery trained Ionisphere who has three track wins and a point-to-point success to his name.

Winning trainer Eric McNamara said afterwards: "He was a good horse on the flat but he lost his way and it was a case of sweetening him up.

"We bought him at the Newmarket horses-in-training sale. He ran ok at Clonmel but he has obviously improved. He loves soft ground.

"The owners (the Notraininifitsrainin Syndicate) are from Limerick City."

(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)