Ludo springs 50/1 shock for Lee/Ferris

Ludo Et Emergo caused a major shock when scoring at odds of 50/1 on his debut in the Xmas Voucher Gowran Golf Shop Maiden Hurdle to provide a welcome change of luck for both trainer Andrew Lee and rider Martin Ferris.

Lee, who trains near Cloyne in Co. Cork, had been without a winner since All Sorts Star won a handicap hurdle at Killarney in July 2008, while Ferris was also ending a five months spell without success.

However there didn't appear any fluke about the result as the Needle Gun gelding, who paid €604.40 on the Tote, made most of the running.

He jumped well for Ferris before asserting from the final flight to beat Don Leone (6/1) by two and three quarter lengths.

The 7/4 favourite Tabhachtach was never far from the pace but could find no extra to finish another four and a half lengths back in third.

Lee said, “That was great and I'm delighted he's won for lovely owners. He'll go for a novice hurdle in about a month to six weeks time.

“I thought he'd run well but he slightly surprised me. It's a nice early Christmas present.”

The four-year-old gelding carries the colours of Dr Maria Hinfelaar, a former Dutch professional cyclist and now President of Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT).