There was a 25/1 shock in the finale at Downpatrick and it was a similar welcome conclusion for the layers at Leopardstown when 33/1 shot Best Hello (bought for 11,000 guineas as a foal and for just 6,000 Euros as a yearling by his trainer) put up a nice performance under Willie Supple in the Leopardstown Leap (Colts & Geldings) Maiden.
Always on the pace Jaber Abdullah's victorious newcomer by Beat Hollow kept up the gallop when the sweet-traveller and favourite Apache (Colm O'Donoghue rode as Joseph O'Brien couldn't do the weight) emerged from the pack to give chase. There was a length and a half between them at the line.
Paul Deegan trains Best Hello and he said: "This fellow has the makings of a proper horse. He's a really likeable type and they went a good gallop and he picked up well.
"He has the makings of a smashing staying type and he did it the hard way. The ground was quick enough and he'd be better on slower ground.
"He worked well as a two-year-old and we've always liked him. He'll go to Gowran now for a mile and a half conditions race and then on to the Gallinule Stakes."
In other news from Leopardstown, the attendance was 4,141 as opposed to 3,495 last year.
