Ol Man Dingle (right) jumps the last under Ricky Doyle© Photo Healy Racing
An encouraging third when last seen at Bellewstown in August, the Eoin Griffin-trained Ol Man Dingle went two places better in the Kilmore Maiden Hurdle.
Sent off a 5/1 chance and given a patient ride by Ricky Doyle, the Brian Caherty-owned victor made good headway on the approach to the straight and improved to the front before the penultimate obstacle.
Fitted with a tongue strap for the first time, he was soon pushed clear and while not fluent at the last, he ultimately cruised to an easy six and a half length success.
The Tom Gibney-trained Leave In Secret (10/3) was best of the rest under Darragh O'Keeffe, while 5/2 favourite He's Ultimate proved very disappointing, trailing home in last.
"It has taken a while for the penny to drop with him and I know it is a cliche, but you can see by looking at him that whatever he does over hurdles will be a bonus as he is a chaser in the making," Griffin remarked.
"I was a little disappointed at Bellewstown but it mightn't have been a bad race and today's conditions really suited him. Hopefully he can build on this and he won't go on heavy winter ground.
"He might run next in a rated novice hurdle in Wexford in late October and and we also have Leopardstown over Christmas in mind, if he gets his ground.
"I'm delighted to give Brian his first winner. He is a publican from Newtownhamilton, has been involved in a few horses in the past and is with me nine months."
The winner was beaten by just a neck on sole point-to-point start and subsequently went unsold at the Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
