Nutz gets Lavery off the mark

Half Nutz ran out a stylish winner at Limerick this afternoon when claiming the extended six furlong handicap on the card.

Robbie Colgan 's mount made eye-catching ground on the outer in the straight before hitting the front passing the furlong pole.

The Sheila Lavery-trained gelding looked in control in the closing stages as he posted a length winning margin. Funny Little Ways and Amelia Jane finished well to dispute the second with the former getting the verdict by a nose.

4/1 victor Half Nutz had also won on his final start of last season, when scoring at Navan in October.

Lavery said:- "All my horses are taking a run. I can get them very fit at home but they need to go for a couple of scouts up the Curragh. If he had needed a run, however, I'd have been gutted as I felt he was our first real chance of getting a winner.

"He isn't dependent on that ground as he'll go on good or soft and he has matured so much mentally over the winter. He is a different horse to what we had last year and he has also furnished really well. 

"He is owned by a great syndicate, headed by Fran Kennedy who used to be Eddie Lynam's head lad. They are really sporting and are all on Zoom shouting!

"Fran said we'll see what the handicapper does. There is a nice handicap in the Curragh but we'll see what mark he gets."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)