Doctor Duffy and Kevin Brouder © Photo Healy Racing
A test of stamina proved right up Doctor Duffy s street as he ran out a convincing winner of the Baroneracing.com Sign Up Bonus Hurdle at Navan.
Charles Byrnes charge had been knocking on the door since winning twice over timber earlier in the summer and got back into the winners enclosure in good style in the two-mile-six contest.
Kevin Brouder sent the 9/4 favourite to the front turning for home but he was pressed going at the second last by the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Black Tears and Lethal Steps
Doctor Duffy found plenty for Brouder and galloped on strongly on the run-in to post a four-length win over Lethal Steps.
“The horse deserved that as he's fierce consistent,” said Byrnes,
“The galloping track here suited him. The horse doesn't know how to run a bad race.
“He might go to the first meeting in Cheltenham in October. There is a novice there over two-mile-six.
“If he doesn't go there he could go to the November meeting, he might as well go before the real good ones come out!
“He got his jumping together, it took three or four runs for that to come. He had to keep him off the rail because he's liable to duck out as well. That's why he rode him down the middle between horses.
“He is what he is, 134, and he's a fierce consistent horse.”
When it was suggested he would be a nice chaser he added:-
“He was jumping his hurdles, on his first three runs, like fences. He loves that nice goodish ground as well.”
