Rightback Atya jumps the last under Andrew Ring© Photo Healy Racing
The Philip Rothwell trained Rightback Atya made all as he ran out a comfortable winner of the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.
Sent straight to the front by Andrew Ring the seven-year-old son of Nazar was pushed along entering the straight and he stretched clear after the last, going on to score by four and a half lengths. Miss North Light was sent off the 2/1 favourite and she finished second under Luke Dempsey for Gordon Elliott.
The winner, who was third over the course and distance in May, was 9/2 last night with Paddy Power but opened on-course at just 7/2 before going off an 11/4 chance.
Philip Rothwell said afterwards: "I was having a tough day. I thought the horse in the first race (Runyon Rattler) would win but I knew he would struggle on the ground a little.
"I asked Johnny (Kinsella) to jump him off at the back and to sneak away but sure then he got left at start.
"It was my own fault in ways because he had done that at Downpatrick before. When he caught up with the ones behind he probably should have pressed on a little bit.
"It looked like we were going to have a tough day but that was powerful.
"We ran him on ground that was too quick the last day and he just didn't handle it so we waited for soft ground again.
"He is owned by Sean Osborne who has been my best friend for years. He was training himself but he just didn't take out his licence this year. It's a great thrill to win a race for my best friend.
"He will go chasing pretty much straight away now and he is probably a chaser. He is for sale and hopefully I'll get to hold on to him."
