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Well backed Rodriguez takes Kilbeggan opener

Rodriguez is not fluent over the last but has his rivals well beaten at this stageRodriguez is not fluent over the last but has his rivals well beaten at this stage
© Photo Healy Racing

The well backed 9/4 favourite Rodriguez took the opening race at Kilbeggan this evening, the Betpack Maiden Hurdle, for his trainer Charlie Swan.

The 5yo son of High Chaparral opened at 7/2 with Paddy Powers this morning and was well backed before opening on course at just 5/2.

Ridden by Nina Carberry he led early on before being headed at the fourth flight. He regained the lead at the fourth last and went clear after the next, staying on well from there to record an easy thirteen length win.

The Jessica Harrington trained Stop Road Lad finished best of the rest back in second at 16/1 under Tommy Treacy while Westhaven was a further four and a half lengths back in third at 9/2 under Paul Carberry for Noel Meade.

Swan was clearly waiting for the good ground to come for this fellow as he was taken out of four engagements this summer due to the ground conditions.

The last time he did run he put up a good showing to finish just two and a quarter lengths third to Our Nana Rose in a handicap hurdle on good ground at Sligo last month.

Swan said afterwards: "At long last! He has always shown he is a nice horse and he might win a winners of one somewhere now.

"He could go over fences but he also has the option of going back to the flat.

"The owners (the Let’s Go Racing Syndicate) are a good syndicate and they have a good few horses with me but they have been unlucky."

(On-course reporting by Gary Carson)

1st
9/4Fav
Tote €2.40 €1.40
2nd
13L
16/1
€4.70
3rd
4.5L
9/2
€1.50
4th
6.5L
4/1
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.