Sexton on target again aboard Elliott's Brother Walfrid Brother Walfrid (7/4) had solid form in the book ahead of Punchestown's maiden hurdle over two miles, three furlongs and duly got the job done in the hands of Kevin Sexton. Second in a big-field maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse over Easter, Brendan Scully's Tirwanako gelding had been a beaten favourite but hadn't run badly by any means in a Ballinrobe bumper 11 days ago. Here, reverting to timber, he was produced to challenge longtime leader Frankie's Freebie on the run to the last. Narrowly in front over that final obstacle, the five-year-old stayed on well to score by a length and a-quarter. After Lizzie Twigg in the previous contest, this victory sealed a quick double for Sexton and also winning trainer Gordon Elliott who explained "He had a good run at Easter. I shouldn’t have run him in a bumper the last day, it was just that the owners were going so we said we would. “He’s a big three-mile horse in the making, he jumps and stays well. “It was a good performance, they pulled well clear of the third. We’ll try and win again with him somewhere.” Ballymote Co Sligo native Andrew Kerins, known by his religious name Brother Walfrid, was an Irish Marist Brother and was the founder of the Scottish football club Glasgow Celtic in 1887. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
