Battle It Out (left) and Charlie O'Dwyer© Photo Healy Racing
Battle It Out landed prohibitive odds for the father and son team of Conor and Charlie O’Dwyer when taking the Follow Us On Social Media Maiden Hurdle at Cork.
The JP McManus-owned gelding was sent off the 2/7 favourite having been placed on his latest two starts and cruised to the front early in the straight.
The hot-pot and Knockraha Lass had the race between them when drawing clear from two out and Battle It Out was ridden out on the run-in to prevail by two and a half lengths.
There was a yawning gap of 31 lengths back to He’s Home Again in third.
Conor O’Dwyer said, “I was never as nervous watched a 1/3 chance in my life, not that I've had one before. You see these races and think they're bad but they're never easy won as I found out in Clonmel (on Tuesday).
"It is great to get it over with and he is a smashing big horse who will do nothing only improve. A summer's break is beckoning for him and he will be a lovely chaser in time."
He added "It might have been better if he won the previous day (when well backed) but it was a bit of inexperience which caught him. Once he is improving that's all we want but maybe his couple of quick runs are now starting to tell with him.
"It's job done today and I'll talk to JP (McManus) and Frank (Berry, racing manager) and see how he is. It is too early to be stopping with him and it would be lovely to go to Punchestown before he sees a green field."
Quotes by Tom Weekes
