Moscow gets off the mark over hurdles

Moscow Chief who is a half-brother to dual Grade 1 winner Trafford Lad, got off the mark over hurdles on his fourth attempt, as he took Friday July 12th BBQ Maiden Hurdle under Barry Geraghty for Charles Byrnes.

The six-year-old son of Moscow Society won a bumper at Tipperary on his debut last October but he failed to follow up on his first three starts over timber.

He was tailed off on his hurdling debut at Naas in November, when sent off the odds-on favourite, and he put in another below par effort at Fairyhouse last month.

He put in an improved performance to finish just over ten lengths fourth to Perfect Gentleman at Punchestown on his last outing, earlier this month and he was sent off the 8/11 favourite to oblige this evening.

The chestnut gelding improved to lead at the third last and he kept on well from before the last to win by four lengths at the line. Cloone Springs ran a fine race to finish second at 4/1 under David Casey for Charlie Swan while Cool Klan was a further seven lengths back in third under John Cullen for David O’Brien at 12/1.

Charles Byrnes said afterwards: "He was entitled to win off his last run and he handled the ground ok. He wouldn’t want it much quicker than that. Good ground is his ground.

"He will go straight over fences now and he’ll have least one more run this summer. He is a half-brother to Trafford Lad."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes