Warrior upsets Plan to make winning hurdling debut In a race in which the pre-race betting suggested only a handful of horses held chances, it was the Andrew McNamara-trained outsider Warriors Wood who caused an upset when landing the opening Watch Every Race Live On Racing TV Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan. Third on his only point-to-point start, the five-year-old had failed to trouble the judge in two bumper starts under rules. Sent off 14/1(from 25/1), the son of Masked Marvel tracked the leaders under Darragh O'Keeffe, as The Burrow led favourite Sticktotheplan in the early stages. The latter went on after the second flight, gradually winding it up from the front, until only a few rivals held chances leaving the back straight. Warriors Wood went second three out but, looked to have plenty to do as Philip Donovan kicked on aboard the favourite approaching the penultimate flight. Closing up soon after, Warriors Wood bridged the gap entering the home straight, drawing upsides jumping the last, before staying on strongly to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. “He’s a lovely sweet horse. Our horses weren’t healthy last year and he didn’t perform at all,” said McNamara. “He was a 33/1 shot this morning but we did come here thinking we had a chance, I told Darragh we’d nearly win. “He’s a very straightforward horse, he’s good and genuine, and he jumps very well. He’s easy to deal with. “He’ll be there for the summer and hopefully there is a bit more fun in him. “They went a good gallop from the word go. I was saying to Darragh if that didn’t happen he could nearly make the running if he wanted. “I’d say because it was an even gallop the trip suited him but he’s possibly a two-and-a-half mile horse. “I’d say he’ll make a summer chaser in time. He’s a lovely looking horse but he’s not a big huge scopey horse. He’s a summer horse anyway.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
