Son Of Ocovango Makes It Two From Two

Pinkerton (6g Ocovango - Mistress Pope, by Catcher In The Rye) followed up on last month’s debut win with a successful hurdle debut at Thurles on Sunday.

The Noel Meade owned and trained gelding made a perfect start in a Down Royal bumper over the Christmas period and was well-supported to transfer his talents to hurdling. Chasing the leaders under Sean Flanagan, he improved to challenge approaching the second last and led soon after. Racing clear on the run-in, he won comfortably by three lengths, with another seven and a half lengths back to the third in a field of 17.

“He has been doing things right at home and we were pretty sweet on him,” Meade later revealed. “He is a nice horse and is going the right way. We'll probably aim for the final at Punchestown.”

The son pf Beeches Stud sire Ocovango was bred by J Mangan and is the first foal out of Mistress Pope.