A LATE WINNER; IRISH RACING THURLES ACTION Ninetieth Minute success as Taaffe & Flood combine to shock Solwhit.

Byline: BY PETER O'HEHIR

NINETIETH Minute turned over 1/3 shot Solwhit in the listed Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

The Tom Taaffe-trained five-year-old made all under Paddy Flood, who was later stood down with a finger injury after a fall from Blue Fire Lady in the following handicap chase.

Trainer Taaffe, whose comment: "Sorry about that, boss," to Davy Russell, rider of the runner-up, drew a quick response: "I'd say you are," explained the tactical approach used.

"The favourite is a two mile horse on the flat and should need three miles over hurdles.

That's why we decided to go no gallop early in the race.

They only hacked along until turning up the far side.

"Our horse jumped a lot better today. He struggled in terrible ground at Fairyhouse last week, although he still managed to win. He's tough and stays. And anything he does over hurdles is a bonus. He was born to be a chaser."

Taaffe intends giving the Dermot Cox-owned gelding a break before launching him on a spring campaign, with Cheltenham, Fairyhouse and Punchestown possible targets.

Trainer Charles Byrnes, who attributed Solwhit's defeat to the demanding ground conditions, went on to complete a 407/1 double later on the card, thanks to the exploits of Dromin Hill Echo and Bit Of A Devil.

Dromin Hill Echo, ridden by Lenny Flynn, defied a significant drift in the market when outpointing favourite Cochise in the Molony Cup.

Described by Byrnes as "obviously improving," Dromin Hill Echo is likely to reappear at Limerick nest week.

The biggest shock of he day came when Bit Of A Devil completed Byrnes' double in the INH Stallion Owners Maiden Hurdle.

A first winner for jockey Justin Murphy, Bit Of A Devil was a 50/1 shocker, getting the better of the Ruby Walsh-ridden Blazing Beacon.

Willie Mullins, still uncertain about Cousin Vinny's target at Leopardstown next week, continued his fine strike-rate in bumpers, interrupted at Navan on Saturday, when newcomer Layde Back got the better of titanic duel with market rival Ball Of Blue in the finale.

"He's a real stayer and will improve a lot," said Mullins, "We didn't think he'd win a two-mile bumper, so we came here for the extra distance.

"He gallops all day and will make a nice chaser. And he'll probably go straight over hurdles now."

CAPTION(S):

OVER THE FINAL FLIGHT Ninetieth Minute was the surprise winner of the Horse and Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Thurles for Tom Taaffe and Paddy Flood; BEATEN Odds on shot Solwhit was only second