Byrnes' double up in Limerick with Opposite Ends Opposite Ends (4/1f) tanked into contention and crucially found at the business end to bring up doubles for Charles and Philip Byrnes in Division 2 of the Professor Maria Hinfelaar Handicap Hurdle on Limerick's card. Philip Byrnes brought him wide around the home bend as his mount travelled well into a narrow lead. He had Ballingurteen for company over the last two flights, but Byrnes shook him up on the run-in to take over and his partner opened up by four and three-quarter lengths at the winning post. Ballingurteen picked up a runner-up prize at 12/1 and was half a length in front of a staying-on Wise Man (8/1). Father and son Byrnes also took the opening mares' maiden hurdle via Fly Away Home (5/4f). The trainer said: "We thought he might have been placed in Clonmel the last day as he was starting to run on, but got brought down and got a terrible fall. Philip was lucky afterwards and he gave him a beautiful ride today. He left them all at it and swept up the outside on the better ground. "We have the horse since he was a foal (bought for €16,000 in 2018) so have him a long time, but have plenty others for as long who don't win - so this is great. "We breed some of our runners nowadays, but you're a long time waiting for them. Buying foals is a better system, but I'm not getting any younger either." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
