A record crowd in excess of 7,000 turned up at Mallow yesterday, and punters had to brave not only cold conditions but also a string of surprise results.
Keith Hadnett partnered his first winner when Come In Moscow landed division two of the two mile Blackwater Maiden Hurdle at the St Stephen's day meeting in Mallow. The John Murphy-trained filly led before the last, and was driven out by the Tipperary rider to beat Rockspring Hero by a length.
Just Our Job may travel to Britain later this season after providing favourite backers with their only success of the afternoon in the featured Fermoy Hurdle. Michael Hourigan's charge led between the final two flights, and kept on well under trainer's son Paul to hold the renewed effort of Native Endurance by a neck.
'He is not in the Pierse Hurdle (formerly the Ladbroke), and may go for one of the big handicaps in Britain. He travels well on the bridle, and is suited by a fast run race,' said the Limerick trainer, who will wait until next season before putting the five-year-old over fences.
Mouse Morris got his Christmas campaign off to a good start when sending out Boulevard to take division one of the two mile maiden hurdle. The son of Sadler's Wells headed the front-running Runaway Jake after two out, and kept on well despite a mistake at the last to beat Horner Rocks by two and a half lengths.
