Goose Man (Sean O'Keeffe) races to victory as The West's Awake and Philip Enright crash out (both up ok afterwards)© Photo Healy Racing
Outsider of the five for the www.thetote.com Hurdle at Down Royal, Goose Man (6s from 7s on track and bigger earlier), got the job done under seven pound claimer Sean O’Keeffe.
The West’s Awake was in with every chance when falling at the last here, and Road To Dubai hit the same flight.
That well-backed favourite stayed on well on the run-in under Davy Russell, but failed by a neck to get to the Tom Taaffe-trained Goose Man.
"He's a fair horse. I'm sorry about Edward's (O'Grady, The West's Awake horse falling. We've given him time, he's only seven and we just let him mature.
"I said to him (Sean O'Keefe) if they went quick enough get carried along and make it an even two and a half so it is going to be a stretch instead of a sprint. He quickened and he stayed galloping.
"He'll have an entry in the Galway Plate - I needed to get a run into him near enough and far enough away. I just wanted to get a run and open his pipes. Options are open now, we'll see what the handicapper does on both counts.
"Long-term he is a horse I think could be a National horse, I think he is that sort of horse - you have to have the toe and you have to be able to stay and that is what he does.
"He was wrong at the last but he was quick. Sean was good on him, in fairness to my son Pat he said Sean was the man to ride him. I said I wanted to take 7lb off him when I knew how wrong I was with Rashaan "
(MG & EM)
