Tir Og in a rich vein of form under Hogan Tir Og (4/1) followed up on her victory at Sligo when taking the Tennents NI Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick. The prominent racer made all under Calum Hogan and, although pressed over the last by 7/2 favourite Centaq, found plenty up the hill to record a five-length success. Centaq had to settle for second and was seven-and-a-half-lengths clear of You Make Me Smile (14/1). Calum Hogan said: "I won on her the last day (in Sligo) and it felt to me there (today) as if I was getting my own way in front. I was in my comfort zone. "When I came to the third last, she just pricked her ears. I was questioning how much I had left at the top of the hill but, once I gave her a slap down the shoulder, she came alive with me and she won cosy enough. "To be honest, I said it when I won on her the last day, I thought she was going to improve. You don't have to make the running on her - you have to get her settled really. "She's small, but she is a very good jumper and is very honest. "I'm delighted for the boys. "She's not a filly that I would imagine would take her races fairly well, she can be a bit highly-strung. I'll leave that (plans) up to the boys. "I'm 19 from Limerick and that is my 17th winner, so going well and I have a lot of people to thank. I'm with Eric McNamara five mornings a week and go into Eoin McCarthy's one day a week. "I was tipping away last year and got a fall last Christmas and dislocated my shoulder."
