Mac's Conflict landed a gamble in the second race this afternoon, the Follow Ballinrobe on Facebook Handicap Hurdle, giving his trainer Paddy Fegan his first racecourse winner with Matthew Bowes aboard.
Having opened at 8/1 on course the 9yo was backed all the way into 9/2 favourite at the off and duly obliged to the delight of his owners, the Macs Lucky Syndicate.
The son of Close Conflict was having just his second start for Fegan having previously been trained by Co Galway trainer David Ryan.
His last run for Ryan came at Newbury way back in March of 2008 and after a layoff of well over two years he made his reappearance over the course last time out when finishing a respectable seventh to Nurse Ryan.
Today he just got up on the run-in to score by three parts of a length from Indubitably back in second at 10/1 with Cadeaux Fax a further six lengths back in third at 13/2.
This was Fegan's second runner on the racecourse proper. He trains in Keady, Co Armagh and has five in training at the moment. He has tasted success between the flags on three occasions before.
Fegan said afterwards: "That is my first winner and just my second runner. I have five horses in training at the moment and have my licence since last October.
"I was expecting him to run well and hopefully finish in the first three. I don’t know where all the money for him came from.
"His owners are connected to Paddy Mac's pub in Ballina, Co Mayo."
