Come To Me (Paul Townend) is clear at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Come To Me opened his jumping account in some style when taking the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle by a wide margin at Cork.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding has been very lightly-raced since making a successful debut in a bumper at Punchestown two years ago, and was easy enough in the market as punters latched onto Getaway John
Paul Townend, who went on to partner a four-timer on the day, sent the 11/4 chance to the front early in the straight, and appeared to have the measure of Presented Well when that one fell at the penultimate flight.
This left the half-brother to former stable-companion Sweet My Lord clear and he galloped on strongly for an easy 17 lengths victory.
Lighthouse Warrior took the runner-up berth, with Getaway John a further 21 lengths adrift in third.
Mullins’ assistant David Casey said, “Paul said he was still quite green through the race and said he can only improve. He was very happy with him, jumped well and kept galloping well.
“Paul thinks he can go on to better things and he’ll definitely learn plenty as it was only his third run. Hopefully he’ll improve away.
“He ran with the choke out a bit but he was probably just a bit fresh after a break.”
