Easy for Automatic in Limerick opener Automatic justified odds-on favouritism in the opener at Limerick, the first divide of the Well Done To All Frontline Staff From Limerick Racecourse Maiden Hurdle. A good second in a handicap on his penultimate start at Cork, the Liam Burke trained six-year-old since disappointed when sent off favourite at Clonmel in October. Sent off at 10/11 this evening, the chestnut son of Durban Thunder raced in second early on, improving to lead with a circuit left to race. He established a healthy advantage from the third last and kept up the gallop in the straight, going on to score easily under Rachael Blackmore. The Hunter Hoe (8/1) finished seven lengths back in second, with Ricky Doyle aboard for Conor O'Dwyer, while the Colm Murphy trained Gondor (10/1) was a further seventeen lengths back in third. Burke said: "He is big and can be awkward but was entitled to do that on some of his form. It took us a while to get a handle on him as we were holding him up and not letting him stride on but today he was idle in front and needed company. "He jumps hurdles well enough but when he meets them wrong he is awkward. "He is a really good work horse at home and I thought he was the real deal but he is a huge big horse and I'll go over fences with him now. He actually wants good ground." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
