Toll Stone leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Toll Stone showed his battling qualities to shade Roboretti in the two mile maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse and brought up a double for jockey Donagh Meyler.
The Australia gelding was unplaced in a couple of maiden hurdles at Leopardstown and Punchestown, but showed marked improvement here.
He made notable headway to move into the lead before the last, but fluffed it, as Roboreti delivered his challenge on the inner.
Roboreti kept coming and headed Toll Stone in the closing stages. The latter fought back, though, and got up on the line by a short head at 9/1 from the 12/1 runner-up. Arch Hall was eight lengths adrift in third at 50/1.
Emmet Mullins said: “That was good, it probably wasn't the strongest maiden hurdle on paper.
“After having a few placed runs on the Flat we kind of half questioned his attitude, so it was good to see him stick out his neck there.
“After making that mistake at the last, he knuckled down well and galloped the whole way to the line.
“Donagh said he handled the ground very well and we'll try and get him out again before the ground changes.
“We might have a look at some of the winners races or conditions races for four-year-olds. We'll keep him in the four-year-old bracket, it's probably unlikely we'll go handicapping this early.”
Meyler was earlier successful on Sainte Dona for Tom Cooper.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
