Johnny Feane sent out his first winner over jumps at Fairyhouse today when his ten year old Mr Shankly made a winning debut for the trainer in the Bobbyjo Bistro Great Food Great Deals Handicap Chase.

Ridden by Mark Enright, the son of Portrait Gallery was strongly pressed by De Benno jumping the final fence but found plenty reserves of stamina for a half length win.

Feane, who has made a very good early impression with his flat runners, was recording his 14th winner in total but his first in the national hunt sphere and later stated "a friend of mine had him with (trainer) Willie Murphy and I got him to lead the young horses during the winter, trotting and hacking.

"We got him because he's handicapped over hurdles and fences and he was in great form so I said we'd run him and he won, so it's grand. He's a fun horse who wants three miles and the softer the better. He'll probably win over hurdles as he's a better jumper of hurdles than fences."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson