Wicklow Lad & Paddy Kennedy on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Wicklow Lad put in a game front running display to land the Panoramic Restaurant for Mother's Day Handicap Hurdle for Paddy Kennedy and Francis Flood.
The grey 9yo son of Silver Patriarch had five wins to his name before today and he ran well last time out at Navan to finish third behind Edmundo.
Sent off at 6/1 he made all and despite the field closing on him as they turned into the straight, he pulled out more and went on to score by two and a half lengths at the line. Forever Gold (11/2) stayed on well on the run-in to snatch second under Paul Carberry for Eddie Cawley while Peinora (9/1) was a short head back in third under Martin Burke for double seeking Tim Doyle. Smart Money was sent off the 11/4 favourite under Davy Russell for Jim Culloty but he could only manage a disappointing eighth.
Francis Flood Junior said afterwards: "He showed on his last two runs with the blinkers on that he was coming back to some kind of form.
"He is maybe getting a bit too complacent. His Thurles run was promising and then he ran a cracker at Navan.
"I’m delighted he won here today and he might go back jumping fences now.
"There is a possibility of going for a good chase with him and it was just a matter of him finding form. He was one of the favourites for the Troytown (in 2011) but the ground didn’t really suit him."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
