The victory of Golanbrook half-an-hour earlier proved a timely form boost for Pride Of The Arctic who showed good reserves of stamina to prevail in the three miles Gowran Park Racing Club 2012 Maiden Hurdle.
The pair had filled the minor placings behind Mississippi River at Fairyhouse earlier this month, and punters latched onto the form-book pointer backing Peter Fahey's charge into 6/4 favourite (from 9/4).
Fahey's nephew Mark made virtually all the running on the six-year-old gelding but he needed to get serious after a mistake at the last to hold off Castle Wings (3/1) by a neck. Quaquo De Flotte (7/4) continued a rare frustrating afternoon for the Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh combination finishing another four lengths back in third.
Peter Fahey said, “I was a bit worried beforehand as he seems to run a good race and then a bad race. It's great for my brother Brendan who ownes him and Mark gave him a good ride.
“My wife Ber rides him out every morning, and she keeps telling me he's in top form and to run him. Thank God I listen to her.
“Brendan has the mare Tricias Pride at home and I won two bumpers and a hurdle on her. There are plenty of relatives to run. We'll give this horse some time, and he should be better on better ground.”
