Roja Dove and Eddie O'Connell on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
The Ken Condon trained Roja Dove ran out a surprise 20/1 winner of the opener at Downpatrick this afternoon, the Join The Fundraiser Maiden Hurdle.
Ridden by Eddie O’Connell, the bay four-year-old daughter of Jeremy was having just her second start over hurdles, with her first run over flights coming back in May of this year at Killarney.
She was well-beaten on that occasion, but she since won on the level at Gowran, adding to her previous flat success which came at Naas in August of 2012.
After racing in a clear second behind Mollies Gent the winner hit the front soon after the second last, travelling best and going a couple of lengths clear before the final flight.
She was driven out on the run-in, keeping on well in the closing stages to score comfortably by seven lengths from Sizing India back in second, with Ring Eye (5/1), for Tom Taaffe and Bryan Cooper eleven lengths back in third.
The runner-up, for Jim Dreaper and Andrew Lynch, went off the well-backed 11/10 favourite, having been supported from 9/4 this morning, and from 7/4 on-course.
Eddie O’Connell said afterwards: "She had a bit of form on the flat. She is a bit buzzy at home but she jumps well there.
"Roger (Roger Loughran on Mollies Gent) gave me a great lead to the second last. I maybe got to the front a bit soon but she did it well.
"It’s quick, safe ground out there."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
