First Approach clears the last as Cool Saint (far side) is about to fall© Photo Healy Racing
Just three went to post for the BetVictor W T O’Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle at Thurles but there was no shortage of drama with odds on favourite First Approach ultimately coming home alone.
The 4/5 chance gave Sean Flanagan plenty to think about as he hung out at a number of the bends in this 2m6f event.
The field was reduced to three after Ronald Pump (lame, ran yesterday) was taken out, and Monbeg Worldwide was being pushed along when falling at the third last. Cool Saint moved up to challenge at this point and Rachael Blackmore’s mount held a fractional advantage when falling at the last.
This left the Noel Meade-trained First Approach on his own to add to a Down Royal maiden win earlier this term.
Meade said, "He was never going like a horse that was going to win at any stage of the race and he hung the whole way. I don't know why but there is some little thing annoying him, whatever it is.
"We thought after Naas we sorted it out because he didn't really travel, but we obviously didn't. I know she (Rachael Blackmore on Cool Saint) might have beat him but he wasn't doing a stroke so who knows. He was idling the whole way and it is very tight today but he won and they all count.
"We think he is a very nice horse but what I'm going to do with him, I don't know. He is more a chaser than a hurdler and maybe he'd like easier ground too."
(TW & AM)
