Touch Base leads Caerleon Kate over the last© Photo Healy Racing
After winning the second with Youghal By The Sea Gordon Elliott doubled-up in the Joe Rea Memorial Maiden Hurdle, as his Touch Base came home in front under Mark Walsh.
The son of Robin Des Champs certainly wasn't winning out of turn after being placed on his last three starts.
Having opened on-course at 3/1, the JP McManus owned gelding eventually went off the 2/1 favourite.
After racing mainly in second, the bay victor improved to dispute the lead with a circuit to race. He got to the front before three out, and kept on best under pressure from the last, to see off the challenge of Caerleon Kate by a length and a quarter.
Adam Short was aboard the runner-up, who was backed from 16s to 12s on-course, for Colin McBratney, while 3/1 chance Presentingprincess was another six lengths back in third.
Walsh said afterwards: "He's rated 106 and that was the sort of race I rode. I'm just thankful he got his head in front eventually.
"He did (battle) when the second horse came to him. In fairness he put his head down up the hill and galloped all the way to the line.
"He's definitely a chaser down the line and I'm delighted to get the hurdle win out of him. He might get another little handicap somewhere."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
