RACING/PERTH REPORT:IRISH BUMPER winner Mart Lane had no trouble making a winning start to his career over obstacles in the Edinburgh Gin Maiden Hurdle at Perth yesterday. The 6 to 4 chance travelled kindly throughout in the hands of Brian Hayes and eased alongside odds-on favourite Hard To Swallow rounding the turn for home. The result was scarcely in doubt from that point as Mart Lane pulled clear of his opponent, successfully negotiating the final couple of flights to score by 23 lengths without being extended.

Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon said: “That was good as he’s a small horse but I couldn’t have expected him to do it any better. He travelled so well during the race and jumped so well. It’s hard to get a horse to win a maiden first time over hurdles, but he’s done it very well.

“He’s a brother to Western Leader, who was probably the best horse I’ve ever trained, and we’ll take our time with him.”

Success on Mart Lane was a first winner under Rules for Hayes and the second was soon to follow, with Hanlon’s One For Joules (15 to 8 favourite) making the most of a drop in class in the Book Your Christmas Party At Perth Claiming Hurdle. Hayes said: “All her form was on real top of the ground but I suppose today was a drop in class for her and she was well in at the weights. That just told in the end. I turned professional three weeks ago and I’ve been having a bit of bad luck recently, but today is brilliant.”

There was further success for the Irish brigade in the Juvenile Hurdle, with Gordon Elliott’s The Ice Factor (5 to 6 favourite) going in again under McCoy. “He’s only rated 45 on the Flat so you’d think he was fairly limited, but in fairness to him he likes jumping and that’s the name of the game with a three-year-old at that level,” the champion jockey said.