THERE was no birthday winner for Stuart Crawford at Downpatrick on Friday, his best result from six runners coming in the extended two and three-quarter mile maiden hurdle where Roger Brookhouse’s Whispering Affair (25/1) finished second to the 8/13 favourite Monkshood.

Proud father of five-week-old Lily Isabella, Stuart told The Irish Field that he was unable to attend to nappy-changing duties thus far as he was recovering from surgery on his collarbone. As his wife Jill is both human and equine physiotherapist, we don’t imagine that she will let him away with that excuse much longer!