Ryan Treacy with Pat and Mark Flynn© Photo Healy Racing
Three horses pulled clear in the two mile maiden hurdle at Tramore for six-year-olds and older, but it was Prince Chaparral who stayed on best for Ryan Treacy.
The 4/1 chance pressed Here For The Craic round the home bend (after bypassing the second last) and availed of that rival’s blunder at the last to win by a neck.
Here For The Craic (10/1) fought back on the run-in but couldn’t quite reel the winner in.
Pat Flynn trains the seven-year-old visored gelding and he said: “That’s great. I’m delighted for Chris [owner Christopher Maye]. He also bred him and he also bred Bahrain Storm and Storm Away.
“He’ll make a really nice chaser as he’s brave out. I think there might be another flat race in him though.” Run For Firth was the other horse in the front rank, but he was one-paced coming to the last and had to settle for third, 10 lengths off the runner-up.
The heavily-backed 2/1 favourite Admiral Hawke disappointed in fifth place. He had been 6/1 in morning trading and opened at 3s on course for Shark Hanlon and Andrew McNamara. This led to Prince Chaparral being easy to back at the track from 11/4 out to 4/1.
Prince Chaparral landed a mile and a half flat handicap at this course on Thursday evening.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
