Jockey Mark Walsh completed a double for owner J.P. McManus in the concluding www.roscommonracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle at Roscommon this evening on Hired Hand (10/11f), the fourth winning favourite of the day.

Hired Hand moved to the front after two out before staying on well to defeat In A Nutshell comfortably.

Winning trainer Charles O’Brien was not present while McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry subsequently stated “it has taken Hired Hand a while to win but he jumped away well and did it nicely. We’ll find a handicap hurdle for him now and he’ll tip away during the summer mixing it between jumps and Flat.”

Thomas Weekes