Coltor leads Showbusiness (left) and Zoffanien (centre) at the last © Photo Healy Racing
Coltor showed plenty of heart to last home in a thrilling finish to the opening maiden hurdle at Naas this afternoon.
Dermot Weld 's charge was sent to post the 11/4 favourite after being in the money on two outings over hurdles.
Paul Townend always had the Free Eagle gelding handy and he pressed long-time leader Toughari jumping the third last.
Coltor gained a narrow lead at the second last as Zoffanien and then Showbusiness threw down challenges.
The winner landed a bit steep at the last but found plenty in the closing stages and had just a neck to spare at the line from Showbusiness with the same margin back to Zoffanien in third.
Townend said afterwards:- “We are lucky to be here I suppose. It’s winter ground but it’s not bottomless and I was surprised it wasn’t a lot worse.
“He stuck it out well in fairness to him. He’d the experience of two runs which was a big help.
“He’ll probably appreciate a bit of nicer ground but he handled that as well as you’d expect him to.”
(Quotes by Alan Magee)
