Oscar Thyne justifies favouritism under Maxwell Oscar Thyne added to a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle win last year when landing the Quirke uPVC Windows (Clonmel) Beginners Chase. Conor Maxwell took the mount on the Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding in this two and a half miles event for jockeys who have not ridden more than ten winners this season. The 3/1 joint favourite, well-backed this morning from 15/2, led early in the straight and asserted before the last to beat Mount Melleray by two and three quarter lengths. Sheshoon Sonny was making little impression before a mistake at the last finishing a further eight and a half lengths adrift in third. Maxwell said, "He was good and the ground probably helped him more than anything. His jumping let him down on bad ground and his jumping wasn't the best there but to be honest I thought the race fell apart around me. "He travelled well through it and his jumping needs to sharpen up an awful lot but he won well in the end. It wasn't the best of races but he got the job done." (TW & AM)
