Tecumseh Sherman and Shane Fitzgerald © Photo Healy Racing
The 11/4 favourite Tecumseh Sherman made all under in-form 7lb claimer Shane Fitzgerald to take the Lough Gill Handicap Hurdle.
The lightly-raced 9-year-old, a half-brother to former Pierse Hurdle and Grade 1 novice chase winner Barker, was challenged at the second-last by Guido Reni (9/2) but asserted after the last and held the late effort of Pump Road (3/1) by a length and a half.
Guido Reni finished half a length further back in third.
A bumper winner at Downpatrick in 2019, the King’s Theatre gelding came into this contest having been placed in three of his four outings in maiden hurdles.
It was a double for the winning rider after The Little Yank earlier.
Winning trainer Pat Martin said: “Shane came highly recommended by (jockeys’ agent) Garry Cribbin and I think he made the difference, his 7lb looked very valuable there.
"He jumped better than I thought he might because I was a bit concerned that he would be a bit novicey in his first handicap. He’s a very willing and consistent horse that tries really hard.
"He had some good runs on soft ground so I thought he’d handle today’s conditions although he wouldn’t have minded faster ground, but maybe some of the horses who came out (because of the rain-softened ground) would have been a bigger threat.
“It’s a great boost for my owner Eamonn Duignan whose daughter is getting married on Saturday, so this will pay some of the bills!”
