Hi Emperor is pushed out by Fergal Lynch in the closing stages© Photo Healy Racing
First time blinkers worked a treat on Hi Emperor as he ran out a comfortable winner of the Like Fairyhouse On Facebook Handicap, scoring under Fergal Lynch for David Marnane.
The five-year-old son of Choisir disappointed on his last outing at Naas on yielding to soft ground but he won the time before that at Dundalk in April.
He also won his maiden over the course and distance back in June of 2012 and having opened on track at 8/1 he was backed into 13/2 at the off.
Settled in sixth the bay gelding was ridden along over two furlongs out and he swept to the front on the outer over a furlong from home.
He soon went a couple of lengths clear and he was ridden out inside to final furlong, scoring by a comprehensive four lengths at the line. City Of Culture ran a fine race on her seasonal debut, finishing second at 25/1 under Wayne Lordan for Willie McCreery, while Norville was a further length and a half back in third under Connor King for Lee Smyth at 8/1.
Lily’s Prince was sent off the 7/2 favourite for the double seeking duo of Gary Phillips and Garvan Donnelly but he could only manage fifth.
David Marnane said afterwards: "The blinkers obviously did the trick. He won at Dundalk and I thought he would go on from there.
"He ran in an apprentice race the last day where there was no sticks and no headgear and that probably didn't suit.
"He liked it back on good ground and we will see what the handicapper does. I’ve always liked him and he will step up another furlong." Reckless Lad was withdraw at the start after breaking through his stall and his rider Andrew Thornton was injured in the process.
He has been taken to hospital for x-rays on his leg.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
