Happy Lad clears the last under Adam Short© Photo Healy Racing
Adam Short came in for a winning spare ride on Happy Lad in the Irish Jockeys In Support Of Downpatrick Racecourse Maiden Hurdle.
Successful in a bumper at the venue in September, the Hugh Finegan trained seven-year-old failed to make an impact on his next four starts.
Stepping-up in trip to two mile six this afternoon, the son of Heliostatic came in for plenty of market support.
Available at 14/1 in early shows, the chestnut gelding opened on-course at just 11/2, before going off a 5/1 chance.
Having raced mainly in second, he was left in front three out, with the even money favourite Monition slipping up after jumping out to his left, which he had done continually through the race.
Happy Lad travelled best in front on the approach to the last and he extended his advantage on the run-in, going on to score comfortably by five lengths. Hello Pilgrim (5/1) kept on into second under Rachael Blackmore for Colin Bowe, while Killinkere (4/1) was another length and a quarter back in third.
Finegan, who also owns the winner, said afterwards: "He won his bumper here last year.
"He was a bit slow jumping his hurdles. It took him a while and maybe we left him point-to-pointing too long, he was just a bit too careful.
"He seemed to jump better today and he got his own way and he did it well. You need a bit of luck in this game!
"I think he'll stay further, he just seems to love this place and likes it up here. If we see something here again we'll be bringing him back.
"Poor Danny (Hand) got a fall this morning and hard luck on Danny. We got Adam (Short) at the last minute, it was brilliant. Delighted to get him!"
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
