Practice completes good weekend for McManus

Common Practice swooped before the last to claim the €100,000 Bar One Racing Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse, completing a good weekend for owner JP McManus.

Mark Walsh produced the 14/1 shot to lead before the final flight and he stuck on well in the closing stages to record a length-and-three-quarters win over By Your Side in the two-miler.

It was a double on the day for trainer Joseph O'Brien, following the earlier win of Nurburgring and owner McManus was recording his fifth win of the two-day festival.

Common Practice was dropping back to the minimum trip today having faded late on over almost half a mile further at Naas last time.

McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said:- “It’s been a brilliant couple of days.

“Mark rode him in Naas the last day and he sort of forced him up a bit, so he said he’d change tactics today and drop him in and see what happened. It worked out grand.

“In hindsight the trip today may have suited him better. He’s been a consistent little horse and it’s nice to see him getting one of those. He got a great ride.

“There are loads of those handicaps coming up worth a few quid and he can be competitive. We’re delighted with him.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)