Francis Casey with Eight Till Late© Photo Healy Racing
Eight Till Late provided Francis Casey with his first success in the training ranks, as he took the last at Leopardstown this evening, the SOREC Morocco Cup Handicap.
Casey took over the licence from his late father Peter, who passed away in the January of this year.
Sent off a 6/1 chance, Eight Till Late was also completing a double on the card for Oisin Orr, who was earlier successful aboard Innamorare
Settled behind the leaders on the inner, the versatile ten-year-old was ridden in third over a furlong out, and soon got to the front, keeping on well in the closing stages to hold off the challenge of Pivot Bridge by three parts of a length.
The runner-up was returned at 10/1 (from 12s) under Shane Foley for Adrian McGuinness, while the well-backed Xinbama (25s this morning, returned 8s) was another two lengths back in third. Miraculum was sent off the 4/1 favourite, and he finished fourth.
Casey said afterwards: "That's my first winner, he was my father's last and it's at the track he gained all his notoriety so it's kind of fitting!
"I only have five riding out. It's a bit of a struggle but sure one good day will make up for the many bad ones.
"He's in Galway next Wednesday in a two-mile one and my plan was to probably go for the big two-mile six handicap hurdle on the Saturday but we'll see."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
