Feelgood Island and Sean O'Keeffe (nearest) jump the last alongside Vintage Prosseco© Photo Healy Racing
Feelgood Island gained a deserved first win at Down Royal as the Liz Doyle trained gelding landed the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle under jockey Sean O'Keeffe.
The son of No Risk At All was in strong contention disputing the lead when falling at the second last at Clonmel last month and today bounced back from the fall as he wore down leader Vintage Prosseco on the run-in when beating that rival by two and three parts of a length.
Winning trainer and Wexford based Doyle wasn't present and afterwards O'Keeffe later reported "he's a lovely horse going forward. He was very, very babyish and the penny is just dropping with him now. He improved a lot for a hurdle.
"He travelled away, he jumped very well and galloped to the line very well. He'll get further.
"They went a right good gallop and it was a proper test going that gallop.
"I'm delighted for James Rath who owns him as he has had a hard time lately with a family bereavement. He deserves it and he puts in a lot of work."
Quotes from Michael Graham
