Neveradullmoment jumps the last in front © Photo Healy Racing
Owner JP McManus had won the opener with Mystical Power and quickly doubled up in the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle when 4/1 favourite Neveradullmoment trained by Philip Dempsey, came home in front under local rider Danny Gilligan.
The Mahler gelding, winning for the first time, was settled behind the leaders and moved up travelling well after two out. The six-year-old headed eventual third Whatsafellatodo before the last and was ridden out to beat the staying-on Ahead Of The Posse by a length-and-a-quarter.
Dempsey said: "He's been doing everything well and we were very happy with him. Danny did everything right and gave him a good ride.
“I’ve trained all this family including Teacher’s Pet and Whatareudoingtome, and they were decent horses. This fella should make a lovely chaser.
“I suppose he’ll go to Listowel and whether he’ll go chasing this year I don’t know. I’ll talk with Frank (Berry) and see what the plan is.”
"It's great to have a winner here," said Gilligan.
"Every second person I bump into, I'd know, so it's brilliant to get off the mark on the first day. I'm very thankful to connections for giving me the opportunity, especially coming back from an injury and putting me up so soon.
"He was a bit slow away and I had to get my position early. Once he found his rhythm it was very straightforward. I got there probably plenty soon but thankfully he battled the whole way to the line for me.
"I was trying to fill him up the whole way down the hill to leave that bit to come up the hill and I knew going down to the last, when I seen his ears starting to prick, that I had plenty of horse underneath me.
"My weight is good. I did a year on the Flat and that did my weight all the good. I'll be able to claim off bottom weight. Thankfully that's my 7lb claim gone after today so that might make it a bit easier.
"I'm in Gordon Elliott's every day, he's been the main man behind me and has given me plenty of opportunities, and I'm very grateful to him as well."
