Apple's Of Bresil and Finny Maguire © Photo Healy Racing
The Barry Connell trained Apple's Of Bresil recorded the first win of his career when landing the concluding Durkin Bros. Electrical INH Flat Race at Sligo.
A slight shade of odds-on in the morning, the six-year-old drifted out to 5/2 on track as the money arrived for Willie Mullin's Chart Topper 11/4-6/5f).
Third to Ballyburn over hurdles at Leopardstown over Christmas, the Blue Bresil gelding had earlier run well when occupying that same position in a Navan bumper.
Leading early on here, Apple's Of Bresil sat mid division at halfway. Pushed along over three furlongs out, the gelding looked in trouble early in the straight as Wild Mandate surged to the lead.
However, Finny Maguire brought the eventual winner to the outside, conjuring up a strong late run to get up close home.
Barry Connell said: "He has very very good winter form but is not really a bumper horse. They went no gallop and it turned into a bit of a sprint. He hasn't run for a while so it was a good performance.
"He'll go to Galway for a maiden hurdle, probably the one on the Saturday, but he'll probably be entered for another one as well.
"Finny works for me and is a great asset to the yard. I'm delighted for his co-owner Tim O'Driscoll as well."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
