Veteran Mojito comes good at Gowran

Mojito Royale rolled back the years when recording his eighth career win, nearly four years after his previous success, in the Byrne Marquees Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park.

An appropriate winner on the day for owner Paul Holden, whose Plant Hire company earlier sponsored the conditions hurdle, the top-weight was patiently ridden by Mikey Butler.

The ten-year-old gelding struck the front early in the straight, and kept on well on the run-in to beat Daigreen by three lengths. City Line was nearly five lengths further adrift in third with Stop Road Lad completing the placings in fourth.

Winning trainer Eoin Doyle said, “We’ve been waiting a long while for that but he’s been a great old servant. He still retains a bit of ability.

“The handicapper gave him a chance and dropped him a bit, and we may try him again on the Flat.”