Longclaw and Keith Donoghue (near side) jump the last ahead of Jeff Kidder© Photo Healy Racing
The 11/4 favourite Jeff Kidder and Longclaw (15/2) had a good tussle all the way up the straight in the Railway Bar 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle, with the latter forging on after the final flight for a six length win.
Jeff Kidder was all wrong at the last which put paid to his chance.
The winner had a great run as a two-year-old when chasing home Alpine Star and Santiago in a red-hot maiden at the Galway Festival, and then had a spell in the United States where he finished third in a Listed race at Kentucky Downs.
Back with Gordon Elliott, the Kitten’s Joy colt had a couple of spins on the Flat before taking well to this discipline in a first-time tongue-tie.
The winner just edged right and tightened up the runner-up after the last but the placings were quickly confirmed after a stewards’ enquiry.
"He done it well. On ratings he was entitled to do that,” said winning rider Keith Donoghue.
“He jumped well. We had him well schooled and he stays going well.
“I knew I wanted to make it a bit of test because I knew he stays well and he done it easy in the end.”
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
