Groveman and Conor McNamara (near side) challenge Sean Says at the last © Photo Healy Racing
Groveman sprang a 25/1 surprise in the Follow Us On Twitter Handicap Hurdle.
On his second start since coming to Ireland, the Holy Roman Emperor 6-year-old came through under Conor McNamara to head the long-time leader Sean Says (12/1) after the last and stayed on to get the better of that one by three quarters of a length.
Useful on the Flat in Britain (four times a winner and rated as high as 88), the winner stepped up from a ninth-place finish at Kilbeggan recently to register a second success over hurdles.
Winning trainer Eric McNamara said: "I felt he came on an awful lot from his first run in Kilbeggan (after a six month lay-off) which was over two miles and even though he hadn't run over 2m4f before, I was thinking of running him over that trip the first day. To me he wants every inch of 2m4f to be in his comfort zone.
"I was hoping he'd go close and he seems a very sound, straightforward horse. Maybe he keeps a little for himself but I think stepping up in trip was a huge plus to him.
"The syndicate (Scobie Wan Kenobi Racing Club) are all local, it's headed by Scobie Hogan and they'll be delighted. He'll run away during the summer and might run also run on the flat."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
