Patient tactics prove a big plus for Minus In The Minus opened his account over hurdles at the fourth attempt when taking the QuinnBet 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle in some style for local trainer Brian Cawley at Galway. The Belardo gelding, successful on the Flat for Sean Davis at Limerick in June, made good headway to challenge after two out and a mistake at the last was no issue as he soon asserted on the run-in under hands and heels riding by Shane Fitzgerald. The 6/1 chance, available at double those odds overnight, kept on strongly to beat Whats New by four and three-quarter lengths. Crooked Path was a further length and a half away in third, while 11/8 favourite KIbris could find no extra on the run-in finishing fourth. Cawley said, “We went to Sedgefield the last day when it was game over after only one hurdle, as he was too keen. When Fitzy (Fitzgerald) got down off him, I told him that no matter what, we had to settle him the next day. "At Sedgefield, he was keen and also ran off one bend but was still only beaten 15 lengths by the winner, who came out and won by 11 lengths the next day. The third horse also won since so looking at it in black and white afterwards, it was a good race. "Today I told him that if he gets him asleep, have one good go and that he would come up the hill, and he did. "The first day he ran over hurdles we had doubts about him staying and he was back in distance today. We'll worry about plans next week." Quotes by Tom Weekes
