A great jump by Captain Lob at Kilbeggan© Photo Healy Racing
Mark Enright pushed Captain Lob (9/2) into the lead after four out and the pair poached a healthy lead which 5/4 favourite Great Jones was unable to close at Kilbeggan.
Only three horses were in contention in this two mile maiden hurdle race. Castletimon (14/1) looked poised to get involved, but he could make no impression coming to the last and was four and three quarter lengths in arrears in third place at the line.
After setting off in pursuit, Great Jones and Paul Townend couldn’t draw level with Captain Lob, who stayed on from the last to secure the win by a length and a half. He had been 15/2 in the morning and was sporting a first-time visor.
“He’s a real summer horse. He needs top of the ground and he’ll go over two and a half miles next time,” trainer Dessie Hughes said.
“We’ll try and win another hurdle with him, but ideally he’s a chaser and he’ll go chasing around September time.”
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
