Baltic Bird and delighted connections© Photo Healy Racing
Baltic Bird popped up at 10/1 in a competitive renewal of the McHale Mayo Handicap Hurdle in Ballinrobe. Toto Too the 4/1 favourite, was brought down at the penultimate flight when West Is Awake took a plunging fall. Both horses were still well in contention at that stage.
Baltic Bird was towards the front end when that incident occurred and Oakley Brown soon got after him in fourth.
His mount responded to pressure to soon go after Vina Ardanza and Junior Rattler and Baltic Bird jumped his way into contention over the last.
He came to catch the aforementioned pair a furlong out and, although jockey Oakley Brown soon suffered a mishap with the reins, he quickly recovered and drove her in by a length and three-parts for trainer William Durkan. Western Walk (11/2) took the runner-up berth, a head in front of a staying-on Linden Arden (25/1).
Assistant trainer Gary Bannon said: "We're having a good run and it's great to get winners here for Bill.
"We ran this horse in Punchestown where he met a little bit of trouble in around him. Oakley thought he stayed on really well that day and we knew he'd improve for the run because we'd given him a break before that.
"We said we'd target here if the ground was right and it all worked out."
Brown added: "He travelled nearly a bit too well and was keen the whole way, but I knew he'd come on a lot since Punchestown where he ran a great race.
"I've had three winners from four rides for Bill and Gary. They've been great to me and hopefully I can keep the ball rolling."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
