Quiet Word has final say at Ballinrobe

THE Dessie Hughes-trained Quiet Word proved the equine star of last night’s action in sun-drenched Ballinrobe, the Bryan Cooper-ridden gelding scoring a smooth success over Lend A Hand Son in the Irish Stallion Farms Novice Hurdle.

Having tracked Cillin Hill, the 7/4 favourite eased into the lead after the second last flight and, shaken up briefly approaching the last, ran on strongly to beat the well-backed Lend A Hand Son comfortably by a length, giving teenager Cooper his fifth win of the season.

Winning trainer Hughes explained: “He’s progressing well and, for a Turtle Island, loves fast ground. He’ll go for another ‘novice’, although I entered him for a handicap here, when I saw Sivota was in this race, and wasn’t too disappointed when he was given a mark of 113. So our options are open. He’s definitely going the right way.”