There weren't many empty spaces in the car-park at Cork today where jockey Tony McCoy made a winning return to the track when partnering Edward O'Grady's Overbury Affair in the novice hurdle.
McCoy, whose previous riding experience on the track came in a six furlong sprint twelve years ago, was on board five horses during the afternoon and partnered O'Grady's 8/13 favourite to a comfortable three length win in the 20 runner contest.
O'Grady later commented 'he'd been jumping brilliantly at home but I still though he'd win easier here today!'
The horse received a quote of 20/1 with Cashmans Bookmakers for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham next March.
The opening Mitchelstown Cheese Maiden Hurdle saw another impressive winner with Noel Meade's Rocket Ship comprehensively defeating his 21 rivals under Paul Carberry.
The winner, who pulled hard for much of the race, was reported by Meade to be 'a right horse if he learns to settle. It worked out well that he is still a novice, having received an injury on his last run, at Fairyhouse last January.'
High class hurdler and 5/4 favourite Fota Island was a big disappointment in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF, eventually finishing a well beaten third behind Sean Treacy's Il En Reve.
Fota Island failed to jump with any fluency while Noel Meade's Dizzy's Dream looked to have every chance when falling at the third last, leaving Il En Reve to coast home a 25 length winner.
Jockey Tom Ryan is proving to be one of the finds of the new National Hunt season and the seven pound claimer partnered Pro Dancer to win the Dairygold Light Handicap Chase for trainer Pat Doyle.
The John Kiely bumper machine churned out its latest winner with newcomer Liscooney, a four and a half length win under Paul Cashman.
Thomas Weekes,
