Hee Haw could feature in a list of 'cruel racehorse names' but the gelding continues to overcome 'adversity' as he won his first race for current trainer Ado McGuinness in the opening Smart Money's On Coral Handicap at Dundalk today.

Ridden by Tom Madden, the son of Sleeping Indian raced prominently throughout and in the end wore down leader Ty Rock Brandy inside the final furlong before eventually holding the late finish of runner-up Your Pal Tal by half a length.

Hee Haw had previously won four times when trained in Britain and following today's race trainer McGuinness said “we thought he'd win two runs ago and he let us down.

“I didn't put a saddle on him for ten days and when I saw that the entries were small for the race here on Monday I entered him and we rode him out on Monday afternoon.

“He hasn't had a gallop and we just left him mad fresh. I put plenty of wool around his head tonight! I put the cheekpieces on him tonight as in England he won with them on first time so I'd try a change.

“Six is probably his trip, he was off it early but stayed at it well then. He's tough and hardy and I think he'll even be better with a bit of juice in the ground.

“I might give him another week off, not ride him and try the same trick again.

“It great to win for the lads and we'll just tip away with him.”

Hee Haw, the sound a donkey makes, was also an American television variety show featuring country music and humour which ran from 1969 to 1992.

Quotes from Gary Carson