Mossy Fen Park (Darragh O'Keeffe) leads Joya Del Mar (Dara McGill) home© Photo Healy Racing
There was a winning favourite to start with Mossy Fen Park (6/4) taking the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Down Royal.
Always to the fore, it was looking good for supporters of Mossy Fen Park three out, as the Clipper Logistics Group Ltd-owned and Henry de Bromhead-trained youngster still travelled well in the hands of Darragh O'Keeffe.
To her great credit though, outsider Joya Del Mar kept the winner honest up the run-in and three parts of a length eventually split them, with a gap of five lengths back to market mover Great Universe in third.
"A smashing big horse," commented O'Keeffe.
"He's had two runs in point-to-points and even the last day in Punchestown, he was a bit immature and stuff.
"It was a messy old race - the horse ran off the bend and I said I was going to get in front of him and Gordon's horse (Elliott, He's Ultimate ) was a bit keen. There was plenty went on.
"Even when I got to the front before the second-last, he winged it but he nearly lost ground because he gave it so much air.
"As soon as the other horse came to him, and I got a couple of flicks into him, he has picked up really well.
"He'll be a nice horse when he develops, he'll be some chaser definitely. He's crying out for a fence.
"It was a messy old race and he had to overcome plenty, but he did that. I'm delighted that he got the job done today."
The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident in the closing stages involving Al Kalila ridden by Ben Bromley, placed fifth, and He's Ultimate, ridden by B. Le Clerc where it appeared He's Ultimate moved out onto Al Kalila. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Ben Bromley stated that his mount was hanging right and he suffered minor interference. B. Le Clerc stated he felt his manoeuvre was ok. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found B. Le Clerc in breach of rule 214, in that he had ridden carelessly and having considered his record in this regard the Racedays Stewards cautioned him on this occasion.
At the request of the Raceday Stewards, J.I. Duggan, rider of One And Only trained by Oliver McKiernan, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount jumped big and slow in this race.
(MG & EM)
