Ballyadam Approach (nearest) jumps the last with a circuit to go alongside Lean Times© Photo Healy Racing
The Terence O'Brien trained Ballyadam Approach ran out a convincing winner of the Laurels Bar Maiden Hurdle under Tom Doyle.
The 7yo son of Bob Back, who is out of a half-sister to Adamant Approach, won his point-to-point at Tallow on his second career start back in February of 2010.
However he didn’t make his racecourse debut until December of last year where he finished fifth in a maiden hurdle behind Golanbrook at Gowran.
He then put in three ordinary efforts in maiden hurdles before running a cracker last time out at Kilbeggan to finish just half a length second to E Mac on the 4th of this month.
Sent off at just 9/4 today (opened at 11/4) he raced prominently in the chasing group early on before improving to hit the front after the fourth last hurdle.
He was ridden clear from before the second last and stayed on well from there to score comfortably from Sir Harry Cash at 7/1 back in second for the father and son team of Eric & Emmett McNamara.
After attempting to make all Hansupfordetroit plugged on to take third a further two length back at 8/1 for Aidan Howard and Nicky O’Shea while the 6/4 favourite Giant’s Quest finished a very disappointing seventh under Andrew Lynch for Dermot Kelly.
Winning trainer Terence O’Brien said afterwards: "He won a point-to-point two years ago but he had leg trouble and two wind operations after that. I thought I would never get him back and his last operation was his last chance.
"I thought he was very good one time but he disappointed in his last two runs. I thought he would win a novice hurdle no problem.
"My horses weren’t right when he was running poor but he is only coming to himself now.
"He is crying out for fences but if it stays wet we might run him in a two and a half mile or three mile novice hurdle.
"We will more than likely put him away now as he is three mile chaser in the making."
Donal Muphy & Thomas Weekes
