Paul Carberry continued his excellent start to the new season as he completed a double at Downpatrick this evening (his seventh winner of the new season) aboard the Noel Meade trained Griesenau in the Heart of Down Maiden Hurdle over 2m 5f.

Having raced towards the rear for much of the contest, the 6yo son of Luso made headway from the third last and was fourth before two out. Moyas Charm Tango Moll and So Rustic jumped the last across the track while Carberry waited for a gap in behind aboard the favourite, who was sent off at 6/4 having opened at 2/1.

As they rounded the home turn Carberry squeezed between Moyas Charm & Tango Moll and pushed out his mount from there to score by three parts of a length.

Moyas Charm for Dick & Liz Lalor finished second at 7/1 while Tango Moll was a length back in third under Harley Dunne for Colin Bowe at 7/4.

The winner, who was having his sixth start over hurdles today, is owned by Patricia Hunt who also has Cheltenham third Monksland with Meade along with a few others.

Meade, who was recording his fourth winner of the new season, said afterwards: "He is a bit of a worrier. He ran on his nerves the last day at Kilbeggan and we wanted to switch him off today.

"There was plenty left in the tank as Paul sat on him for so long. It was a moderate enough race.”

Donal Murphy & Michael Graham