Bold Approach gives the last plenty of daylight © Photo Healy Racing
The Bolger colours wwre carried to sucess in the opener at Wexford as Bold Approach (9/2) landed the Lyrath Estate & New Mood Boutique Ladies Day Maiden Hurdle.
A three-time winner on the level for Jim Bolger, the six-year-old was always close up, led before the third and clung by a short head form High City Roller The latter came with his challenge before the last but the winner was more fluent over it which was crucial to the outcome.
Bold Approach, ridden for the first time today by Gearoid Brouder, had been placed twice since going hurdling at the start of the the year.
11/10 favourite Royal Romeo who had finished four lengths ahead of the winner when the pair were placed at Cork last month, finished a disappointing fifth.
An emotional winning trainer Brendan Duke said: "That win is for Paddy Bolger. He was a terrific friend of mine and is an unbelievable loss to the Bolger family and to humanity, so that's for him.
"He is a grand horse who could do with a bit better ground as there was plenty of water on it. That win will do him the power of good and he jumped very well."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
