Walsh completes a double on Priory Park

Apparently unfancied at 16/1 (from 7s this morning), Priory Park completed a double for Mark Walsh in the ThurlesRaces.ie Handicap Hurdle.

The Dylan Thomas gelding, who had shown some promise in maidens last term, chased the leaders before getting a nice split between horses to challenge on the run to the final flight.

The 11/4 favourite Nell’s Well was produced with her effort at the same time and the pair jumped the last together where the winner pecked on landing and bumped his rival. The market leader soon edged right and returned the compliment before Walsh’s mount asserted to score by three quarters of a length.

The stewards were left with a fairly straightforward decision to make and the the placings duly remained unaltered after an enquiry.

Winning trainer Edward O’Grady said: "He has probably grown up a bit as he has got older and Mark said they didn't go a great gallop. He did what he needed to do.

"He will go for something similar next and I think he'll make a nice chaser, maybe even later this season. It depends what JP (McManus) and Frank (Berry, racing manager) decide but he is a nice horse to have."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes