Long lunges late as stamina kicks in Seamus Neville’s Long Branch lunged late to land the spoils in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle at Thurles. He Can’t Dance went to the front at the third flight in the two-mile-six contest and looked set to collect when jumping the last a couple of lengths clear. Long Branch stuck to his task gamely, however, on the run-in and found more late on for Michael Kenneally to get up for a half-length success. The front two pulled a long way clear of the rest, with 41 lengths back to the third horse Alpha Zeta. The 6/1 shot, a former point-to-point winner, was opening his account under rules after some solid efforts over timber. "Michael is great value for his 7lb, that's his first win for me and it worked out well. He had previously ridden for me a few weeks ago and is a good up-and-coming pilot,” said Neville. "He stayed on very well and we'll look for another conditions novice hurdle next. Hopefully he will keeping doing jobs." (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
