No worries for Byrnes' Buster in the first at Limerick The opener at Limerick was a four-year-old maiden hurdle over two miles, one furlong and Bunker Buster (6/4) was a ready winner for the Byrnes family. Twice placed in bumpers, the Kingston Hill gelding had only got as far as the first when favourite on hurdling debut at Gowran Park, but Philip Byrnes allowed the free-goer to stride on in front with over a circuit to race and the grey had the race in safe keeping with two to jump. Five and a half lengths was the margin of victory over Slade Harbour, with another half a length back to the 5/4 favourite Marco Du Seuil. "He was very free, but that's the type of horse he is," said winning trainer Charles Byrnes. "We thought he would settle, but once they jumped off, Philip said he was out of control. "I'd say there's no point in trying to settle him in behind horses now and he's a front-runner at this stage. Maybe he might jump better the next day and we'll step him up in grade gradually. He's a nice horse, though." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
