Go Paddy Go (nearside) leads at the last from Waterloo Sunrise© Photo Healy Racing
If Firethorn hadn't jinked before the last we might have had a different result but as it was there was a second winning favourite in as many races at Navan as Go Paddy Go made it back-to-back victories. He landed the Dunderry Handicap Hurdle under Mikey Fogarty.
In previous years Fogarty would likely have had an earlier start with one of his local point-to-points, Lingstown, beginning this morning at eleven.
The new reality for Fogarty though is life in the professional ranks and he's making a real good fist of things too. The advantage he poached from the last here proved crucial as Go Paddy Go held off Firethorn by half a length.
A home bred, owned and trained by James Grace, Go Paddy Go had given connections some worries on the run-up to this assignment.
Grace explained: "I had a sleepless night last night as he got a knock on a leg yesterday evening.
"The vet passed him here today and everything worked out well.
"He was probably in front a little bit sooner than we'd have liked and Mikey said he idled a little bit in front.
"I have four in training at the moment and I also have a sawmills in Toomevara, Tipperary."
Fogarty reflected: "I've been very lucky to have gotten off to a good start and the few of them that have won have been a help.
"This fella had a good win the last day and he'd been knocking on the door a couple of times before that.
"I wanted to get him settled as there's a long straight here. I wanted to get a lead for as long as I could and thank God we held on." (AM & EM)
