Idas Boy (right) © Photo Healy Racing
Conor Stone-Walsh enjoyed his biggest win since taking out a jumps licence last season when landing the €100,000 Kilmurray's Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Midlands National Handicap Chase on Idas Boy
Trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Noel Meade, the 40/1 outsider of the party raced in rear of mid-division and started to get into the race after the third-last.
Ridden in second on the approach to the last, the ten-year-old headed Tullybeg after that final fence and stayed on well under 5lb claimer Walsh to beat Amirite by three lengths with a fading Tullybeg back in third.
It was a third win in Kilbeggan's big race of the summer for Meade who said: “He got a great tune out of him because he wasn’t going early but he got him going and got him jumping. Going around the outside probably helped him to do that and the fact they went very quick he stayed on well.
“You would have to admire the jockey, a 5lb claimer, the ride he gave him. That’s the first time he’s rode for me and he was exceptional on him as he wasn’t simple. He had a hard job getting him stoked up.
“He is a very good horse but is not the simplest horse to keep right and has had a lot of issues over the years. I think he’s had more broken bones than Paul Carberry!
“Sam (Ewing) was on him at Punchestown and thought he might have won and he didn’t pick up at the fourth-last. He then went to Ballinrobe and he didn’t want to know at all about jumping. The run at Listowel the last day helped to sweeten him up a bit.
“If he’s sound and all goes well then he’ll go for the (Galway) Plate.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
