Hello Neighbour and Gary Carroll © Photo Healy Racing
The well-bred Hello Neighbour landed a nice gamble on his racecourse debut when staying on strongly from over a furlong out to win the Enjoy Hospitality At Navan Racecourse Maiden at the County Meath track.
Available at 28/1 overnight, the Gavin Cromwell trained gelding was supported throughout the day, eventually going off a strong 9/2 chance.
Bred to be a smart type, albeit at the jumping game, the three-year-old was clearly showing plenty at home, given that he made his debut on the level and was well fancied to be competitive.
Making ground early in the straight, Gary Carroll came to challenge Ballydoyle pair Get and Double Agent over a furlong out, staying on powerfully up the hill to hold the renewed effort of the latter horse by half-a-length.
Gavin Cromwell said: "A nice horse. He has a great mind and I was very surprised that he was keen early, but look I suppose first run.
"He pulled for probably a mile and a-quarter in the race or more and still finished. He did well as he probably got there plenty soon enough and then he idled.
"It was a good performance.
"I expected him to run well, but you don't know when you are coming first time and horses in there with good ratings and they have experience.
"He could come back to a mile and a-half. It wasn't my intention to start him off over a mile and six, but I did want to start him off on a nice track. I probably would have preferred if it was a mile and a-half today, but there's not that many maidens at those distances.
"I'll talk to the owners and see where we go from here."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
