Del boy survives blunder

Del Rio survived a blunder in the home straight to win for Andrew Lynch at Perth yesterday where there was a real Meath flavour in the winners' enclosure. Lynch, who was nominated as the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels Sports Person of the Month for March, managed to stay on board the Jim Dreaper-trained Del Rio at the third last fence in the maiden chase. The 10/11 favourite took a keen hold and blundered badly in the home straight. That mistake nearly unseated Lynch, who made great recovery but still had plenty to do to overhaul the Gordon Elliott-trained Mayo Abbey and Jason Maguire. However, there was compensation for Elliott and Maguire who won the next race, a claiming hurdle with Right Or Wrong, formerly trained by Noel Meade for the Neighbours Racing Club. Elliott and Maguire also won a handicap hurdle with Hearthstead Dream. Maguire also won the opening race on the card, for a treble on the day.