Tough Talk, centre, pips Little Big Bear. left© Photo Healy Racing
Newcomer Tough Talk was all the rage for the Holden Plant Rentals Irish EBF Maiden in the Curragh and rewarded that faith by getting up under Colin Keane.
The Kingman colt was supported from 9/1 to 9/2 this morning and was hammered down to 5/2 from 7/2 at the track.
He raced third at the halfway stage behind the leader Forceful Speed and the market leader Little Big Bear (7/4f).
Little Big Bear picked up the mantle racing to the final furlong and a half and was chased through by Tough Talk and Shartash on the stands' side rail.
Tough Talk closed on Little Big Bear with 150 yards to travel and kept going to collar him in the final stride.
He won by a short head. Shartash (16/1) couldn't go with the front pair deep in the final furlong and dropped two and three quarter lengths back in third.
Ger Lyons said: “We've run three and they've all run as expected.
“I said to Colin going out, take your time, go through the gears and hit the line strong. If you win you win but if you don't we'll win the next day, simple as.
“He's a horse we've always liked. He took it all in and was squealing and shouting in the ring beforehand, it's the first time I've heard him roar since he came to me.
“It's his first time away from home and first time on grass so there should be plenty of improvement.
“We'll keep it local and let him tell us when and where we'll start him back but it'll be in Ireland.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
