Tipp holds on to give Larkin welcome winner Tippinaway stuck to his task gamely to spring a 20/1 surprise in the opening Knocklofty Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel today. Eric Larkin’s charge was easy to back in the ‘unplaced’ event but came to press leader Comanche Magic two from home. There were three in with chances down to the last with the leader and Glenmore River making mistakes at the final flight. Tippinaway got his head in front on the run-in and just held on by the narrowest of margins at the line for Richie Deegan as Glenmore River rallied. The winner had been fourth on his last outing at Thurles and was making just his fourth career outing today. Larkin, saddling his first winner in just over two years, said:- “I was hopeful after Thurles, and he’s improved a bit. He was raw and green on his first couple of runs. “He’s a lovely horse and is learning all the time. I think he’ll be better for a bit of distance — all the family want further. “The family want soft ground, but he showed in Thurles that he appreciated a bit of good ground. “I’m delighted to get a winner as I’ve been hitting the crossbar for the last couple of years. I’ve only three in at the moment and they are all my own.” (Quotes by Alan Magee)
