Fran Flood was the main beneficiary of the three-way divide to the Duhallow Maiden Hurdle at Cork on Saturday, with the Grangecon rider completing a double aboard Griffinstown Lad and Dawn Native.
Griffinstown Lad is trained by Flood's father and namesake, and the imposing son of Montelimar easily landed the odds when leading before the straight to beat Panchovillas Gleam by 11 lengths. "He will have another run or two over hurdles this season but his future lies over fences," said Flood senior.
The second leg of the double was hard-earned, with Dawn Native finishing best under strong driving to touch off Childer's Road by a neck.
Shane Cooke successfully adopted front-running tactics aboard Native Endurance in the BBA Training Hurdle, coming home a distance clear after fellow 7 to 4 joint-favourite Seymour Breese fell at the final flight when about 20 lengths adrift.
Stradbally Hall turned back the clock to take the featured Powers Gold Label Handicap Hurdle. Kieran Gaule sent the veteran to the front after two out and he kept on well to beat the staying on Donna's Princess by two and a half lengths.
`It's hard to understand how he is still improving at 11,' said trainer Dick Donohoe, who added: "He is a great old servant, and appears better now than he ever was. He will go next for a handicap at Gowran on Thyestes Chase day (January 25th)."
Mark Grant picked up a seven-day ban for improper riding after an incident early in the straight involving his mount, Midnight Coup (finished seventh), and eventual winner Discerning Air in the Alternative Cater Hire (Pro-Am) Handicap Hurdle.
Uttoxeter general manager Rod Street advises racecourses to be prepared for a potential security threat following the hoax calls that forced the evacuation of the Staffordshire track during Saturday's televised meeting.
The crowd of between four and five thousand were evacuated after a caller purporting to be from an Irish terrorist group rang the course to say a bomb had been planted in the stands.
