Hunting Party jumps the last ahead of Chief Admiral (red) and Jolly Mac Vic (far right)© Photo Healy Racing
Roger Loughran was stood down for the day after being unseated from Mackeys Forge in the second and Mark Enright picked up the spare ride as he guided Hunting Party to victory in the three mile Spring Lamb Maiden Hurdle for trainer Dessie Hughes.
The 7yo son of City Honours opened at 5/2 with Paddy Powers this morning and touched 9/4 before opening on track at just 7/4 and going off the 13/8 favourite.
Having his fifth start this evening and his first on good ground he chased the leaders in the early stages and was third at the halfway point.
He improved to dispute the lead before the third last and he took up the running at the second last before keeping on well under pressure from before the last to score by two and three parts of a length.
The Liz Doyle trained Chief Admiral (5/1 into 3/1 on-course) finished second under Andrew McNamara while Jolly Mac Vic was a further three and a quarter lengths back in third under Andrew Lynch for Davy Fitzgerald at 5/1.
Dessie Hughes said afterwards: “He jumped beautifully on the ground today.
"On his other runs he was off the bridle a fair way out so hopefully there is another hurdle in him but chasing will be his game.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
