Ernest Gray, green cap with black star, knuckles down to his task© Photo Healy Racing
Ernest Gray rallied to winning effect in the four-year-old colts and geldings point-to-point bumper at Punchestown.
The son of Walk In The Park raced close to the Mythical Hero who set a steady early pace.
He got on terms with the leader rounding the home bend but looked booked for a place at best as Mythical Hero led from a staying-on How Will I Know well inside the final furlong.
How Will I Know soon went on but Ernest Gray knuckled down and rallied to pass How Will I know close home.
The 5/2 joint favourite landed the spoils by a neck from 20/1 How Will I Know. Mythical Hero (5/2jf) gave best and was a length and three quarters away in third.
Again this was a race for horses that have not run in a race under any rules of racing or in a point-to-point chase.
Trainer Colin Bowe said: “He has a good pedigree, he's out of Emily Gray.
“My lads wouldn't be used to bumpers. Barry (O'Neill) said he had loads of horse but he just wasn't sharp enough to go forward. He should improve a good bit from that.
“He was passed and he battled back to win. Hopefully he'll be for sale now.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
