College Boy (nearest) challenges Bahati Boy at the final hurdle © Photo Healy Racing
College Boy landed a nice touch in the two-mile handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse when running out a cosy winner.
The Conor O’Dwyer-trained JP McManus gelding was punted from 7/1 into 7/2 favourite on course and delivered for connections.
Mark Walsh took closer order on the son of Oscar turning for home and cruised into the lead at the last.
A slightly untidy jump there halted his momentum a touch but Walsh soon pushed him out to edge ahead and record a cosy length-and-three-quarters victory over Bahati Boy
The winner was bouncing back to form after a poor run at Gowran Park last month when he had finished well beaten.
“I’m still baffled with him the last day. He ran no race and nothing showed up since to explain what happened,” said O’Dwyer.
“We know he handled summer soft and he handled that ground well. He did it well.”
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
