Michael Graham
Dawerann enjoys his western trips
Dawerann, left, comes to win the maiden hurdle at Roscommon
© Photo Healy Racing
After two runner-up finishes in Ballinrobe, Dawerann made it third time lucky into the west when taking the two mile maiden hurdle for Michael Hourigan and Barry Geraghty.
The four-year-old gelding moved nicely into contention on the inside coming to three out. At that flight he had New River in the middle and Tangolan on the outside for company.
New River had made all, but as the three horses approached the last he was first to crack as Dawerann (9/4 joint favourite) popped it nicely and kept on to score by two and three quarter lengths from Tangolan (8/1).
New River (12/1) was beaten into third by Tangolan by a short head in this 17-runner contest.
"His form projected he would win a race like this. He jumped well and I was always confident he would get there," Barry Geraghty said.
"He's only a four-year-old so should improve and you won't see the best of him until he goes chasing."
Dawerann was backed from 2/1 to 6/4 this morning, but was weak on course as he opened at 7/4 and drifted out to share 9/4 favouritism with Strategic Bid who came in fourth for Tom Taaffe and Ruby Walsh.
Geraghty and Hourigan improved their record at Roscommon this season to four from eight when teaming up together.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes