Amateur handicap and Lartigue hero from last year Swamp Fox landed another big pot when coming out on top by a short head in the McHale Coranna Handicap Hurdle.

A course winner here at Ballinrobe already, from the bypassed last (Akito took a bad fall on the previous circuit bringing down Conduct Yourself the Barry Browne-ridden Swamp Fox just did enough to prevail. Polar Present came hard at him again late but the line came in time for the Joe Murphy trained Swamp Fox (8/1).

"I was well prepared to beaten a short head! It was a turn of the Gods," said Murphy.

"When I saw him coming wide around the outside I thought maybe he had given away too much ground, I thought he might get done again.

"He is a tough, genuine horse and we will probably aim him for the Galway Hurdle now. He'll get an entry in the good hurdle at Killarney before Galway.

"It's a nice pot to win and he has never failed in a big race."

B.T. O'Connell, rider of Cliff House trained by John J. Walsh, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran disappointingly and did not handle the ground.

(DM & EM)