Pump Road picks up the lead at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Sligo trainer Mark McNiff doubled up at his local track when 5/2 favourite Pump Road came home strongly in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over three miles.
Sean O'Keefe, on his first ride for the trainer, rode the seven-year-old cold at the back of the field and the pair made good headway after the second last.
The pair delivered a winning challenge at the last and stayed on stoutly to take the spoils by four and a half lengths. Global Racing came in second at 5/1 with Baltygirl seven lengths adrift at 25/1.
Mark McNiff said: "If he had of jumped four out or three out here the last day, he would have won, and if the eventual second had kept any way straight he'd have won, so he was probably a very unlucky loser here the last day.
“I thought the young lad was brilliant on him. He's a horse that if he doesn't find a rhythm he's no use. He's improving away all the time.
“He's only ran here twice before, he won the first day and as I said he was an unlucky enough loser the last day.
“The slower ground and the bit of extra trip left room for blundering one or two.
“He'll go for the three-mile handicap in Listowel if he gets in. He goes on bad ground. He's very small and a light weight would be ideal.”
McNiff had admitted after the previous winner that he wasn't in great form after losing Celtic Monarch in the fourth race.
“The first horse died so it hasn't been great. We had him since he was a two-year-old and he was ten so it's unfortunate.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
