Journey West clears the final flight© Photo Healy Racing
A set of blinkers worked the oracle on Journey West in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick.
He was available at 22/1 in the morning and was backed down to an SP of 6/1.
The Westerner gelding made headway into mid-division four out and continued his progress at the next. He hit the front racing to the last and kept on well to come home eight lengths clear. Porky Rush took second at 11/1 with Lily Light Foot another four lengths away in third at 100/30.
Trainer Colin McBratney said: "He had run in a couple of right good maiden hurdles in Navan and places and finished eighth and ninth.
"In Limerick the last day we told Ryan Treacy to do something different with this horse, to jump him out and let him rattle. I knew after he had gone a hurdle I'd given him the wrong instructions.
"Then we took him home and did a couple of bits of work. He should have been doing that a long time ago. We put a set of blinds on him and it has got the ability out of him.
"Shane (O'Callaghan) gave him a nice ride and was very quiet on him and let him creep away and creep away.
"He's actually in at Punchestown on Tuesday and Wexford on Wednesday and if he eats up and all goes well, he will turn up somewhere if it keeps raining."
The Stewards requested a report from C.A.McBratney, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Journey West, placed first, as compared with its recent run at Limerick on the 13th March when pulled up. C.A.McBratney reported that the change in riding tactics today whereby his charge was held up early, the application of blinkers for the first time and the lesser standard of the race were all contributing factors to the improved performance. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.
