Father and son team of trainer Tony Mullins and jockey/son Danny Mullins were on the mark in the Underwriting Exchange Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse today as their Shannak shed his maiden tag.

Shannak had previously failed to win in his bumper and point-to-point days but improved one placing on his St Stephen's Day runner-up effort at Leopardstown to win snugly today on his sixth attempt over hurdles.

Afterwards trainer Tony Mullins stated “on his Leopardstown run he'd have to do that. I thought this looked a weaker race on paper and he only endorsed what he did at Leopardstown.

“He's not a big horse but he still jumps fences well and will go again in a couple of hurdles. There's a future for him over fences and he seems to go on that heavy ground nicely.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson