Decade Player and Andrew Ring at Ballinrobe© Photo Healy Racing
Very few horses got into the opening two mile maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe as Decade Player (7/4f) landed a comfortable success despite fiddling the last.
The four-year-old was ridden by seven-pound claimer Andrew Ring who sent him into the lead three out from front-runner Two Euro Luck
The pair then forged on and had plenty in the tank to see off Loughderg Princess (18/1) by six and a half lengths for trainer Philip Rothwell.
The runner-up kept at it well from a long way back, but never looked like getting on terms even when the winner was untidy at the last.
40/1 outsider Toca Deed showed his first piece of form when taking third.
“I’m delighted especially for his owner, Liam Macken (from the Be Good Partnership) from Athlone. He is hugely supportive of the yard,” Philip Rothwell said.
“He was to run in the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel, but I felt the ground would be too heavy there and that he would struggle on it. Thankfully the rain stayed away today.
“I think he’ll be better going left-handed and that’s why I wanted to try him at Listowel. I might try him in a novice hurdle at Tipperary now in a few weeks time or he could go to Cheltenham for the November meeting.
“His last two runs were very good and the yard is going very well.”
Decade Player had finished second on his two previous outings at Clonmel and over course and distance.
Jockey Andrew Ring is from Castlecomer and that's his third winner on the track.
(On course reporting by Eamonn Murphy)
