In The Trenches gets his day in the sun In The Trenches made the breakthrough at the 35th time of asking in the Randox Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick. Placed no less than 19 times, he went off 9/4 for this assignment over an extended two-and-a-quarter-miles. Gavin Cromwell's charge tracked the leaders for Eoghan Finegan and closed two out. He disputed the lead before the last where he took over, and stayed on well up the hill to score by five lengths for the Horsey Boys Syndicate. Euro Agent was backed from 20/1 to 9/1 and filled the runner-up berth while Amina, the 5/6 favourite, was more than five lengths further back in third. Finegan said: "He has been a bit frustrating now, so he has. I think he has 14 seconds before today, so it was well overdue. "It has been going well, I'm down to my 5lb (claim) after that one so hopefully we can keep kicking on for the year ahead. "It was pretty straightforward - I was keen to get a lead because when he gets there a bit soon he pricks his ears, but I kind of get in box seat and I got a lovely split at the second last and I said I had to go and take the opportunity. To be fair to him, he did it very easily on the bridle. "I didn't want to go after my lad either, I just wanted to keep filling him up because with his record you couldn't trust him."
