Hey Johnny, white and black hooped cap, stalks the leaders© Photo Healy Racing
Hey Johnny swooped past the three market principals to land Ballinrobe's bumper for father and son Tom and Charlie Mullins.
This half brother to Cheltenham champion bumper winner Sir Gerhard travelled well as he took closer order on the three leaders in the final quarter of a mile.
The principals were tussling away three abreast inside the final furlong but Hey Johnny picked up well and raced past them with 150 yards left.
He won going away by three and a half lengths at 11/2. Howyabud 9/4 joint favourite, came in second, half a length up on Ballyglass (4/1).
There was also half a length between Howyabud and Ballyglass when they were second and third on debut at this track in April.
The trainer said: “I thought I was going to have to go out on to the track to wake Charlie up, but he was coolness personified and all credit to him.
“It took the horse the two runs to know his game a bit better, and he was definitely going out on grass after today’s run whether he won or lost.
“He’s definitely looking for the green green grass of the paddock.
“He’s a good horse, he’s a half-brother to a good horse (Sir Gerhard) and hopefully it’ll be onwards and upwards from here.”
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
