Quay comes good for Griffin and Doyle

Scotch Quay stretched clear in good style to land the spoils in the Vee Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel.

Ricky Doyle produced the Arakan gelding to lead before the second last in the two-mile-two contest and he quickly asserted.

The Eoin Griffin-trained six-year-old had matters in hand going to the last and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to post a comprehensive eight length verdict.

The 9/1 winner (from 16/1) was opening his account at the 17th attempt.

"He finally got there - i didn't think it would take as long as he doesn't go too badly at home. He has bits of pieces of form throughout but today was his day and the ground was perfect for him," said Griffin.

"You just don't know with those horses as he has been on 80 for a long time and maybe there might be another day in him.

“Hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him as his history is there and he'll jump a fence in time. We'll try and win another hurdle and then go chasing."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)