James Conheady and family © Photo Healy Racing
Despite five non-runners reducing the field to seven, An Forghas was still sent off 125/1 for the Download The BoyleSports App Flat Race but the rank outsider belied his odds with a front-running victory.
Owned, trained and ridden by James Conheady, the four-year-old was well clear at halfway and, although several rivals closed up on him three furlongs out, he went again and stayed on well to beat Musta Lovea Lovea (11/4) by three and three quarter lengths.
Beaten over 53 lengths when beating only one home on his only previous start at the Listowel festival, the winner was matched for 290Euros at 1,000/1 on the exchanges with some of the trade being done before the race and the rest of it in-running.
"I thought he was going to be free so I said the best place to be was in front. He works at home on his own so it is no bother to him," said Conheady.
"We've had point to point winners but that's my first track winner and I have the restricted license myself.
"I'm forty and my father Mick Conheady was a jockey in the past. I'm a farmer and always keep one or two horses and the winners in the point to points keep us into it. This is my biggest success!
"The horse is named after Newmarket-On-Fergus where we live and he is a fine big horse who we bred ourselves."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
