John Joe Walsh's Jackieandy was the susprise winner of the opening DNG W.H. Giles Auctioneers Maiden Hurdle at Tralee today, with the Co Cork trainer later expressing his disatisfaction with the current elimation system.

Ridden by Kevin Coleman, the gelding raced prominently before eventually getting to the front before the final flight, staying on to defeat 9/4f Beneath The Radar by a length and a quarter.

Walsh later reported "Jackieandy was unlucky in a handicap at Ballinrobe last time out when he was left at the start. He should make a nice chaser in time."

However Walsh also added "Jackieandy is rated just 79 and he is one of the horses that HRI is planning to get rid of in their new elimiation system. I've had this horse entered in handicaps for weeks and we can't get a run because he keeps being balloted out. That is the reason we ran him in this maiden hurdle - the whole thing is wrong."