Born To Rule and Mark McDonagh© Photo Healy Racing
Born To Rule rallied to land a gamble in a thrilling renewal of the Broderick's Electrical Maiden Hurdle in Ballinrobe.
The four-year-old gelding, in first-time blinkers, was backed from 18/1 to 8/1.
He raced second to clear leader Gaelic Arc but closed up on that horse and led at the second last.
The Born To Sea gelding looked in trouble when Aboutagout the 11/10 favourite, swept past him to lead jumping the last. Turkestan also moved in front of him turning for home but Born To Rule found for pressure between horses and bravely renewed his challenge in the closing stages to put his head on the line.
He won by a short head from Turkestan (3/1) on his outer. Aboutagout was half a length further back on his inner.
Jockey Mark McDonagh said: “Tom (Hogan) was spot on with the instructions.
“He said he’d keep going and just keep after him, that he kind of ran on a bit at Galway on the Flat.
"I didn’t think I’d got there but Tom was confident that I wouldn’t be far away and he was right."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
