Racing:Sweet Wake enjoyed what should prove a confidence-boosting success when he ran out a facile winner of the 20,000 Knockcroghery Hurdle at Roscommon.
Noel Meade's six-year-old has bags of talent, but had been without win since getting his head in front at Naas in January 2006, although he has invariably been campaigned in top company.
Sent off at 1-3 under Denis O'Regan, the German-bred cantered to the front after the second-last and was never off the bridle in accounting for Classic Croco by six lengths.
Meade's charge was fifth to Noland in the 2006 Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham when sent off favourite, and somehow finished out of the places in this year's County Hurdle having been in front at one stage after the last.
Meade said: "He was entitled to win like that. There was rain here before racing and but for that he wouldn't have run.
"I think he pulled something behind at Cheltenham in 2006 and he wasn't really right after that.
"This year at Cheltenham he probably got there a bit too soon and he could possibly have needed the run that day as well.
"We'll give him a break now and go hurdling again next year. Despite everything, I still think he's a very good horse."