Faceman springs 40/1 shock Faceman became the fifth winner out of star mare Solerina when making all in the Kilbeggan Irish Whisky Maiden Hurdle. Brian Hayes bounced out in front on the 40/1 shot and made every post a winning one. The Harry Kelly-trained gelding was asked for an effort before the last and galloped on strongly to post a four-and-a-quarter length win over Sugar Cookie. Owner John Bowe said:- “We always liked him. He just needed the run the last day but on his best form, on his first three runs, he had as good a form as anything in the race. “I couldn’t believe he was the outsider of the field today. “He was third at Fairyhouse for Brian before in a maiden hurdle and he just had to reproduce that. “It was a fantastic ride by Brian. He’s a front-runner like a lot of our horses and he handled the track really well. “He’s racy and has a bit of size and he’s very genuine. It’s lovely to get another winner in the pedigree. I think that’s Solerina’s fifth winner. “She has a four-year-old filly left to run and the horse that ran on Monday (Butch Coolidge). “I’d like to come back here again with him because I think he’s a horse that would take to that track. Jaime Sommers, his half-sister, used to like the track. He’s a similar type. “I’d like to find a winner’s of one novice or something similar here.”
