Sea lands the spoils as Master crashes out

Sea Light came home an easy winner of the McSweeney Arms Hotel Handicap Hurdle, as Master Appeal who held a marginal lead, crashed out at the last.

The Charles Byrnes trained winner himself fell at the last on his most recent outing at Galway, and he was expected to recoup losses today, going off the clear 6/4 favourite.

Settled off the pace by Phillip Enright, he was a closer fifth with a circuit to race. He came with his challenge on the outer approaching the third last, and soon moved into a share of the lead.

He was headed from two out and came under pressure, as Master Appeal took over in front. There wasn't much between them at the last when Master Appeal crashed out, leaving Sea Light to come home an easy eight and a half length winner. Kylecrue (8/1) finished second under Donagh Meyler for John Ryan, while Automated (9/2) was a further two and a half lengths back in third under Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott.

Charles Byrnes said afterwards: "He deserved that. It would have been close but he wasn't beat (when Master Appeal fell) at the same time. He remembered his fall at Galway and jumped big today. He'll probably go to Listowel."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee