Gilgamboa (nearside) and Flaxen Flare battle it out over the last at Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
J P McManus' Gilgamboa has the ability to match his looks as he quite incredibly landed the Boylesports.com Handicap Hurdle on just his fourth start.
We only saw the Westerner gelding for the first time back in October and he took his score to three from four today with a length and quarter success over Flaxen Flare
The keen going favourite Quick Jack was delivered with his chance in the straight but he could do no more from before the last under Paul Carberry and he finished two and a quarter lengths off Gilgamboa and Flaxen Flare in third.
Plenty of money came for Sea Light in the finish up and the 4/1 chance came back in fourth place, eleven lengths off the principals.
Enda Bolger, the winning trainer said: "Starting off we were going to point-to-point him in Lemonfield on J T's day (fund-raising card for John Thomas) and then we decided to go to Galway with him as he just kept improving.
"He's named after a very good friend of Ciaran McManus', Gil, I know he's looking in in America so it's great.
"The reason I'm here is because of J P (McManus) so all credit to him.
"Chasing will be his game down the road. He even jumps hurdles like fences. He'd have been some certainty in a Ladies' Cup!
"J P and Frank (Berry) and myself will have to talk about where we go next. We don't want to overdo it anyway."
After his big win on Defy Logic here at Christmas, Mark Walsh was at it again here on Gilgamboa and he explained: "Everything went perfect. I got out nice and handy and got a nice bit of light the whole way.
"I was always happy where I was and he travelled brilliant. It was hands and heels, taking it up into the straight and he was very professional for a horse only having his fourth run.
"Enda has done a brilliant job with him. He's improved from every run and hopefully he keeps going forward.
"He's a lovely horse to ride – very easy to do anything you want to do with him. He's a pleasure to ride."
Paddy Power go 12/1 from 16/1 for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury next month.
The same firm go 12s first show for the County Hurdle at Cheltenham.
D. E. Splaine, rider of Reizovic trained by John E. Kiely, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount attempted to run out approaching the second last hurdle and fell.
(AM & EM)
