Hanlon & Hayes double up at Perth Mart Lane bolted up under Brian Hayes (his 1st winner as a professional) for John 'Shark' Hanlon in the first at Perth, beating the odds-on and highly-regarded Hard To Swallow by twenty three lengths. Barry Connell owns Mart Lane and a delighted Hanlon said: "That lad was very good – he is small, he's not over-big. "We decided a long time ago that we'd come here to this meeting. Barry owns him and we're going to play a bit of golf in the morning, a bit of craic, so we said we'd bring him on. "When I saw the declarations there was one in it that I was afraid of and that was McCoy's horse (Hard To Swallow). After that the rest of them are probably fairly ordinary. He did it very well though, we couldn't have expected him to do it any better. "He travelled so well during the race and he jumped so well. "It's very hard to get a horse to win first time out over hurdles. But this fellow just done it very very well now. "Brian said turning in at the bottom that he was still keeping a hold of his head as I'd told him to do. I told him not to panic as it is a long way home here. "He said he couldn't believe it when he looked inside and McCoy was driving and there was nothing to be seen around him. He done it very well. "We've nothing really in mind. He's a horse that will take a bit of time between his races. "His brother was the very same, Western Leader. He was the best horse I've ever had. "He used to take a lot of time between his races. This fella will be the same. He's in a couple of months so we'll take our time with him now." One For Joules made it two half an hour later for Hanlon & Hayes in the claiming hurdle by five lengths. Hayes said: "It's unbelievable. I've been having a run of back luck recently. Horses haven't been going well for me with saddles slipping and things just haven't been going well but today was brilliant. "I felt a bit of pressure in the first with Mart Lane but that was easy. "I'd never even had a winner as a professional before today. I turned three weeks ago. "I've had nine rides as a pro. The saddle slipped on two of them - bad luck. "Today was great especially to ride my first winner as a professional for Barry Connell. Barry has been brilliant to me. "Mart Lane is a serious horse. He is a full-brother to Western Leader who got hurt at Aintree last year with Conor O'Farrell. "We always thought this fellow was a nice horse. We didn't think he'd be as good as Western Leader but he might well be. "He was pricking his ears coming up the straight - he was idling with me. "All One For Joules form is on real good top of the ground, real quick ground. "Today was a drop in class for her though and she was well-in at the weights and that was what told in the end. "I'm going home tonight for Fairyhouse tomorrow." One For Joules was claimed afterwards for £10,000 by a Mr Flint. EM
