Toushan (right) and Nickname Exit are in the air together at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Tom Foley was full of praise for Goresbridge owner/breeder Michael O'Dowd after Toushan repaid his patience in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Beginners Chase at Cork.
The lightly-raced eight-year-old gelding has been difficult to train but snatched victory from the jaws of defeat under Roger Loughran in a very tight finish.
The 6/4 favourite and chief market rival Nickname Exit (15/8) had the 2m5f race between them in the straight but, to the surprise of most observers, judge David Maher called Toushan the winner by a nose as the pair stretched 28 lengths and more clear of the remainder.
Foley said, "That was coming for a while but I don't mind waiting as long as they come. I thought he was beat, and Roger said he idled when he hit the front.
"He's a very quick learner (at jumping), and as long as the ground is soft he'll run.
"Only the owner would have stuck with him. He's had a lot of problems, and I told him a couple of times he was wasting his money holding onto him."
