Winner Swamp Fox (David Mullins, centre) jumps the last in third behind Never Again and Cradle Mountain© Photo Healy Racing
He may have went off second favourite but winner Swamp Fox matched in running on the betting exchanges at three figure odds before landing the spoils under David Mullins in the opening Leugh Maiden Hurdle at Thurles. Never Again (hit 1.18 'in the run') when appearing to take control of the two miler from before the last.
Market-leader Cradle Mountain (not fluent jumping) also went odds-on when threatening to salvage victory from the jaws of defeat on the run-in, but it was the Tom Egan-owned and Joe Murphy-trained Swamp Fox that stayed on best of all.
The Windsor Fox gelding had dropped to third from before the last having helped make the pace, but he found more on the run-in to edge Cradle Mountain and Never Again by half a length and a neck.
"When you're holding the steering wheel going to the races, you know this fella isn't going to run bad!," remarked Murphy.
"We've always loved him and he never runs a bad race and he showed lovely battling qualities.
"He's a very genuine, consistent horse and while there are other horses better than him, I wouldn't swap him. He'll have another run in a handicap before hopefully running in the Fred Winter (at Cheltenham) and we'll have to wait and see if he gets in."
For his part Mullins said: "He was good. The second horse again, Cradle Mountain, was third behind him the last day. We were getting seven pounds off him today and I'd say that might have just helped.
"I thought I might have had him figured out after the last day but he's confused me now again. I thought he was straight-forward and he'd quicken when you ask him but he just hit a flat spot today.
"Maybe that was because of the ground and being in front so long. He'd be better going the other way but he done it well today."
D.N. Russell, rider of Cilento trained by C.Byrnes, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumped slowly.
Rachael Blackmore, rider of Bullowney trained by Garrett James Power, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount hung left.
(TW & EM)
