Living Next Door & Ruby Walsh on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
The Tony Martin trained Living Next Door ran out an easy winner of the Fathers Day June 16th Novice Handicap Hurdle providing his rider Ruby Walsh with a double on the card (earlier scored on Turban .
The seven-year-old son of Beneficial opened at 8/1 last night with Paddy Powers but was just 5/1 with the same firm this morning.
He was backed on track from 9/2 into 4/1 favourite and having chased the leaders for much of the contest he closed up from before the second last.
He hit the front on the run to the final flight and he quickly asserted on the run-in, going clear to score by six lengths from Whiskey And Rye in second at 7/1 under Brian O’Connell from John Joe Walsh.
Recent course winner, De Benno (10/1) finished a further three lengths back in third under Derek Fox for James Grace while Lughnasa was a further length back in fourth at 9/1 under Brian Cawley for Robert Tyner.
Tony Martin said afterwards: "He won his maiden hurdle in Limerick and he always showed us a bit. Just a few things went wrong but he was very good today.
"He is in on Wednesday at Punchestown but he is probably too far out on the weights.
"He revelled in that ground and he might have one more run now before I leave him out.
"His owner John Breslin (also owns Ted Veale) is over from New York and that will put him in a good mood ahead of Punchestown."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
