Lion In His Heart clears the last in good style© Photo Healy Racing
Lion In His Heart gave Bryan Cooper and Gigginstown a quick double when proving too strong in the two mile maiden hurdle at Tipperary.
The five-year-old gelding led before the second flight from well-backed Harold Peto (11/2 from 10/1 in the morning).
He maintained the lead but had the 7/4 favourite Jack Dillinger tracking him on the home bend as Harold Peto came under pressure.
Harold Peto weakened out of contention before the second last as Lion In His Heart fiddled it and Ruby Walsh got into the drive position on the pursuing Jack Dillinger.
The latter couldn't reel in Lion In His Heart, however, who cleared the last and stayed on well to post a victory by two and a quarter lengths.
Henry de Bromhead's charge scored at 5/2, backed in from an opening show of 7/2.
"He did it nicely and jumped well. He can be a little bit strong so I'm hoping that with that run under his belt he'll start to settle a bit more," Henry de Bromhead said.
"I'll speak to Michael and Eddie (O'Leary) and look for a novice hurdle next and the For Auction at Navan is a possible race in November."
There was a gap of nine lengths from the runner-up to third-placed Weightfordave (6/1).
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
