Bartholomew wins for Brassil in first at Cork The opener at Cork on Easter Sunday was the Dermot Casey Tree Care Maiden Hurdle over two miles, in which Bartholomew (11/4) proved far too strong for odds-on favourite Mino Des Mottes (4/7). Having shown ability on the Flat for Nicky Stokes, the Nathaniel gelding was a promising fourth on hurdling debut at Leopardstown over Christmas.  Here, fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time, Ricky Doyle's mount went on with the Harry Cobden-partnered faourite before the third-last as early leader Georg Zhukov gave way.  The winner, owned by the Old Pals Partnership, went on after the second-last and cleared away to score readily by 10 lengths. Winning trainer Martin Brassil said "We liked him but I'd say he is still a bit immature. He is a stronger horse now though and has improved a bit. We'll enter him for the (Grade 1) four-year-old hurdle at Punchestown as he has beaten a horse rated 121 by ten lengths today, so we hope he is getting to that type of area. "We were waiting for nice ground and he jumped well and was more professional today. "We'll see how he is after his Punchestown race and he could come back for a late-summer, autumn campaign. On the Flat, he would want further than 1m4f but he'll have to have a break at some stage this summer too." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
