Rathviden is pused out to the line by Maxine O'Sullivan© Photo Healy Racing
Rathvinden ran out an easy seven length winner of the last at Downpatrick, the Grandstand Bar Ladies INH Flat Race, under Maxine O’Sullivan for trainer Ian Ferguson.
The five-year-old son of Heron Island fell at the last on his sole point-to-point start at Toomebridge last month, when he appeared to be travelling best.
Sent off at 10/1 this evening, he was waited with before taking closer order from halfway.
He came with his challenge two furlongs out and hit the from over a furlong from home, staying on well to draw clear inside the final furlong, scoring comfortably. Sam Da Vinci finished second at 9/4 under Rachel Blackmore for Tony Mullins while the 7/4 favourite, Gaius Marius was a length and a quarter back in third under Nina Carberry for Noel Meade
Ian Ferguson said afterwards: "He is a fair one. He would have won his point-to-point as he liked but he met the last too fast.
"I thought Maxine gave him a super ride. He is a horse with lots of gears and he is for sale."
The winner cost just €1,700 as a foal at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale in 2008.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
