The Paparrazi Kid (Ruby Walsh) clears the last© Photo Healy Racing
The Paparrazi Kid ended a sequence of second placings by taking the 2m3f maiden hurdle in convincing fashion at Limerick to complete a quick double for Ruby Walsh.
The 4/9 favourite was never far from the pace and took control in the straight drawing clear on the run-in to beat Davy From Milan (7/1) by nine lengths.
There was a further gap of 11 lengths back to Golden Plan (9/2) in third as the testing conditions proved too much for many of the 14-runner field.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said, “I’m glad he’s got his win after hitting the crossbar. He’s able to handle the ground and jumped well enough out of it.
“He’ll handle spring ground as well, and will go for a winners-of-one before looking at Fairyhouse and Punchestown.”
Walsh, now on the 72 winner mark for the season and six behind Davy Russell who's serving a one day suspension this afternoon, said, “He jumped super all the way up the back and got a bit idle in front at the second last and again at the last.
"I had that much horse going to the last it was only a matter of getting over it.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
