Westren Warrior and Barry Cash go away from Ultimate Horseman and Jack Kennedy© Photo Healy Racing
Westren Warrior looked a horse of potential 'between the flags,' and he carried that across to the racecourse proper under a confident Barry Cash in the GAA Race Day 18th August Maiden Hurdle at Sligo.
Carrying the black and white county colours of owner Frank Reynolds, Cash looked content waiting his turn from some way out.
As others battled for supremacy over the closing half mile, of this three miler, the victorious Westerner gelding still travelled well chasing the leaders.
Once asked for his effort from before the second last, the six-year-old, a winner at The Pigeons in the spring and out of a half-sister to Feathered Leader, found another gear.
Cash found a gap to deliver his challenge in the straight, and the Aidan Howard-trained 12/1 shot went on to defeat Ultimate Horseman by five lengths.
Reynolds, who hails from Easkey but lives in Kildare, said afterwards: "We pulled him out a good few times recently, mainly because the ground was too hard.
"He won a point-to-point and we wanted to win a bumper with him. It was a surprise that he won and he is obviously way better than we thought."
J.J. Burke, rider of Shake It Up trained by J.T.R.Dreaper, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount weakened quickly in running.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Shake It Up, trained by J.T.R.Dreaper, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
M.P. Fogarty, rider of Vertical Venture trained by Conor O'Dwyer, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lost his action and was pulled up.
(DM & EM)
