Rookie trainer Peter Fahey saddled his second winner, and first over jumps, when Shop DJ outbattled market rival Sicilian Secret to take the Follow Us On Twitter Maiden Hurdle.
Sicilian Secret (5/2) looked set to score when travelling best early in the straight. However the 7/4 favourite found much more under pressure, and stayed on well on the run-in under Alan Crowe to score by three lengths.
Fahey said: “She was a bit disappointing at Down Royal last month but we found that she was suffering from allergies. The step up in trip definitely helped her today, and the plan is to go next for the 2m4f mares hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting or the Slaney Hurdle at Naas early in the New Year.”
The Monasterevin trainer only took out a restricted licence four months ago, and got off the mark with Intyre Trail on the polytrack at Dundalk in October. Crude (Davy Russell) and Stop At Nothing (Robbie Power) both took no part after being held back as both riders appeared to anticipate a false start. A stewards enquiry was called into the starting procedure, and the stewards judged that Philip Lafarge had affected a fair start.
An obviously frustrated Power said afterwards: “We are told to walk into the start, and if you charge the tape you'll get suspended. But they were going a half-speed towards the tape, and yet the starter let them go.”
