Tronador and Kevin Brogan are clear of Pepper 'N Salt at the last© Photo Healy Racing
After his eye-catching hurdling debut at Leopardstown over Christmas, Tronador (11/10 fav) ultimately got the job done fairly readily when running out an eight length winner of the Adare Manor Opportunity 4-y-o Maiden Hurdle.
7lbs claimer Kevin Brogan had to keep him up to his work at various stages, and his jumping was still quite novicey, but he finished out his race strongly having taken up the running after the second-last hurdle.
Hurdling debutant Pepper ‘N Salt (7/1) was an encouraging second, with Café Con Leche (9/4) another length and a half away in third place.
The winner, by Lope De Vega, was lowly-rated on the Flat for David Lanigan but had only five starts on the level, and has quickly made into a decent hurdler.
It was a fourth career success for the winning rider, originally from Kill, Co. Kildare, and winning owner Martin Wasylocha enjoyed a notable success with a juvenile hurdler in 2018 when Veneer Of Charm landed the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham at odds of 33/1.
"He was behind the bridle the whole way, and probably wants a bit further in time, said winning trainer Gordon Elliott.
"He was going as hard as he could three out and I'd be happy enough."
Regarding a possible Fred Winter plan, he added: "we'll find something small and see where we go; we can dream with him and that's what this game is all about."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
