Always survives mistakes to land the odds

ALWAYS, confidently ridden by champion jockey Paul Carberry, had to survive mistakes at the last two flights before justifying odds on favouritism in the Athleague Novice Hurdle at Roscommon last night.

The Noel Meade trained four-year-old was produced with a well timed challenge, but had to battle hard on the run-in to hold the challenge of Phoenix The Great with High Reef a close third.

Winning trainer Meade explained: “John Egan rode him in England and told me that he liked to battle. The pace today didn’t help him and he’ll be more effective when he steps up to 2½ miles.”

Jockey Keith Clarke (21), who has been based with Tony Martin for four years, registered his first success when 20/1 shot Pacamisto proved a shock winner of the Peter Casey And Sons Handicap Hurdle, in which Silver Swan fell at the third last hurdle, badly hampering the favourite Love Ditty.

Fullafoul landed a tidy gamble for trainer Gerry Keane and jockey in form Seamus Heffernan in the Castlerea Handicap. Backed from 9/2 to 11/4, this convincing winner could bid for a quick follow-up at Sligo tomorrow, although his trainer fears that he will be balloted out.

Monsignor Phil got the better of odds on favourite Vintage Port in the opening maiden and survived a steward’s inquiry before being confirmed another winner for trainer Jim Bolger and stable jockey Kevin Manning.