The Big Westerner (left) beats the grey Argento Boy © Photo Healy Racing
Carrying the colours of last year's Grand Annual winner Maskada, The Big Westerner made a winning Rules debut in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.
Bought for £120,000 after winning a Ballycahane point-to-point for Matthew Flynn O'Connor in March, the well-backed 4/1 chance tracked the leaders and went the shortest way around throughout under Darragh O'Keeffe.
In front on the approach to the last, the five-year-old was pressed on the run-in by odds-on favourite Argento Boy but found more to see off that one by a length.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead, who teamed up with O'Keeffe to land both maiden hurdles at the same venue yesterday, said: “She looks a nice mare, jumped great and travelled well. Darragh was great on her and delighted to get it for the Marigas who are great supporters of ours.
“She picked up well after missing the last a bit. She’s still a bit green.
“I think she’ll handle Festival ground, but she’ll go through the winter stuff. I hope so.
“She’s a big, scopey mare and hence the name I suppose.
“We’ve some lovely young horses. We hoped we had coming into the season and felt we had bought well, but you never know. We’re happy where we are at the moment and we’ll try and maintain it.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
