McCutcheon and Long Strand strike again

Evanna McCutcheon has built up a tremendous rapport with her own horse Long Strand of late and the pair recorded their fifth success of the season in the open lightweight at the North Kerry Harriers point-to-point fixture outside Ballybunion on Saturday.

Long Strand (2/1) was held up in rear as Rebel Chief and then American World cut out the running in this five-runner event. Long Strand went to the front before the fourth last and with the uneasy favourite Backstage coming under pressure before two out, the winning son of Saddlers’ Hall duly fought off Gordon Elliot’s charge by a length.

Long Strand is trained by David Nagle, he of Maarek fame. The Co Tipperary-based handler said: “It takes a good horse to win an open, never mind to win five and we now go to Kinsale next week.”