Birdman and Shane Foley win the Cork Maiden Healy Racing Photo© Photo Healy Racing
The Jessica Harrington trained Birdman made an impressive winning racecourse debut when proving too strong for a sextet of opponents in the Cork Maiden at Mallow.
One of a trio of debutants in the line up, the Free Eagle gelding looked smart when defying inexperience to run out a ready winner under Shane Foley.
Held up in fourth in the initial stages of the contest, Foley moved closer entering the straight, switching his mount wide to throw down a challenge to leader Himalayan Heights over a furlong out.
Soon swooping to the front, the Harrington trained horse powered clear under Foley before being allowed to ease down for a comfortable two-and-a-quarter length success.
Winning trainer Jessica Harrington reported post-race: "We've always liked him, he is a lovely horse and was very green. Shane couldn't even hit him as he didn't know what way he could go. Even at the stalls he didn't want to go near them because there was somebody in them.
"That will crown him and he is a nice horse.
"Shane was talking about a Listed 1m6f race for him at Navan in May and we've always thought he wanted better ground than today's description (officially 'soft')."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
