Jimmy Breekie leads eventual winner Never Off Duty© Photo Healy Racing
The odds-on favourite Never Off Duty just got the better of Jimmy Breekie in the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.
Successful on his first start in a point-to-point at Dromahane last December, the Robert Tyner trained gelding then finished a good third to Morgan on his racecourse debut over the course last month.
Sent off a 4/5 chance today he was settled in fourth, before improving to lead after the fourth last.
He went a few lengths clear after the second last, but soon idled, and Jimmy Breekie came through to challenge at the last.
That Stuart Crawford trained gelding soon led, however Never Off Duty knuckled down under pressure in the closing stages, getting back up to score by a neck.
The runner-up, who was ridden by Eamonn Corbett, was backed from 16's to 8's on-course.
The front two went six and a half lengths clear of Bosco Di Alco who finished third under JJ Slevin for Liz Doyle at 9/4.
Robert Tyner said afterwards: "He was only idling. He looked like he was going to go away and win very nicely and then the next thing all of a sudden he stopped.
"He picked up nicely going to the line and went away and won nicely.
"There was no gallop and it wasn't the plan to be in front before three out. That's why he took it up so soon and I suppose he was just idling a bit more than we expected.
"We'll look for something over two-and-a-half miles for him."
The winner is owned by JP McManus, who of course sponsored this race. McManus was completing a double on the card having earlier won with Rathpatrick
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
