Money for Carhue proves on the button

The now English-based stallion, Luso, mightn't have been everyone's cup of tea when he was around, but his stock are certainly doing the business in recent times and Carhue was another winner for him in the opening Clonmel Maiden Hurdle.

Day Dream Boy (10/1) and Rathvawn Belle (33/1) scored for the former Garryrichard Stud resident at Fairyhouse yesterday and Carhue for Terence O’Brien and Paul Townend, justified the confidence of those that backed him from 10/1 into 6/1 for this extended two miler. Security Breach wasn't great at the last but Carhue likely had his measure anyway and he hit the front on the run-in before prevailing by a length and a quarter.

Liam Burke (breaks new ground with Ordinary Man running at Dundalk tomorrow night) was responsible for the third-placed Vergalda (Bryan Cooper) who ran on well at the finish.

Terence O'Brien said: "He had been a bit disappointing but I put it down to the ground. Today's ground was a bit better than at Limerick.

"When the handicapper gave him a rating of 109 I was scratching my head thinking where did he get it from. He was probably right now.

"We'll find a handicap for him now. He's very big and chasing (has already won a point-to-point) is really his game." (TW & EM)