Copy Print (right) and Hannah's Lane jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
Copy Print overcame the burden of top-weight to open his account at the 15th time of asking and in the process land some bets in the Holycross Handicap Hurdle at Thurles. Hannah's Lane at the opposite end of the weight scale, provided the chief threat and was prominent throughout.
Adrian Heskin tracked the pace on Copy Print, supported from 9/1 in the morning and sent off a 6/1 chance, and threw down his challenge when meeting the last a bit wrong.
However he picked up again on the run-in and got on top close home to beat Hannah's Lane by half a length. The Fox Tully was a further two lengths back in third, with Manuka completing the places in fourth.
Winning trainer John Joe Walsh said, "He should have won a long time ago but that's the way it goes and it's the first winner for his owner Christy Buckley, who is an auctioneer from Ballynoe.
"He didn't get the two and a half miles and might like nicer ground and wouldn't want it soft. He'll keep running as long as the ground doesn't turn."
Heskin said, "He's probably a horse that I'd know a bit better the next day. I got there a bit early on him. He left me down at the last but he battled back well to get up again."
