Light That and Paul Townend race away from the last© Photo Healy Racing
Light That made all to take the opener at Cork, the corkracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Having shown little on the level, the Jessica Harrington trained bay ran a cracker on his hurdling debut at Clonmel last month, going down by just a half a length to Mr Nicolls.
Sent off the 11/4 joint-favourite this afternoon, the son of Echo Of Light was sent straight to the front by Paul Townend.
He wasn't fluent six out, and was pushed along before the third last, keeping on well under pressure on the run-in, going on to score by two and a half lengths.
Point-to-point winner Ask Nile (8's last night and returned 9/2) ran well to finish second under Brian Hayes for Seamus Neville, while newcomer Hickey's Rock (8/1) was five and a half lengths back in third under Mark Enright for Mouse Morris. Rock Lobster was the other joint-favourite and he finished fourth with Ruby Walsh, fresh from his American Grand National success yesterday, in the saddle for Gordon Elliott.
Paul Townend said afterwards: "We didn't go any gallop and he had a good look in front. It wasn't the plan to make it but he popped the first well and let him stride on.
"He improved form his first run (over hurdles) and hopefully can improve again - he's a fine stamp of a horse."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
