Thyer gives Browne McMonagle his first winner back Dylan Browne McMonagle got back among the winners as Thyer (6/1) held on to land the Christmas Festival Tickets On Sale Now Handicap at Leopardstown over a mile and a quarter. A two-time winner across the Irish Sea, Maurice Ahern’s gelding had been winless this season. His best run came on his penultimate start when a half-length second in a Curragh handicap off a 2lb lower mark. The John O’Shaughnessy-owned son of Gleneagles was positioned three quarters of the way back in the field and managed to navigate a passage through a compact field and make a challenge a furlong and have out. It was no sooner he hit the front, inside the final furlong, that he was pressed by Nermal (11/2) and the pair had a set too from that point. Thyer held on gamely from Nermal to score by a neck. Autumn Twist (10/1) was a further three lengths back in third. "I'm delighted with that,” enthused winning trainer Maurice Ahern. “He's been knocking on the door. He probably just bumped into one when second to Jack Foley's filly(Liberation Date) there that day in the Curragh. I'm delighted with that now. He got an unbelievable ride from Dylan. He gave me my first winner last year, so I'm after giving him his first winner back now!" Additional reporting by John O’Riordan.
