Whinstone shows his guts

Whinstone Boy wasn't entitled to win the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle on official ratings but he is a dour stayer on deep ground and he used his undoubted stamina to see off all challengers.

Sean Flanagan led on the son of Supreme Leader two out but he was soon challenged on all sides. However he gamely pulled out enough on the run-in to repel Powerstation by a head. Boulavogue was a close up third and Paddy Pub the gambled-on front-running favourite, couldn't raise any extra when it mattered and filled the fourth spot. Scotsirish ran satisfactorily on his reappearance to finish fifth.

Winning trainer, Jimmy Mangan said afterwards: "My son Patrick splintered his ulna in three places when this fellow fell at Clonmel last week. He is gone back in for x-rays on it today. I'm eyeing up a good staying chase for Whinstone Boy. He is a 117 over fences and he could be a Thyestes horse."