Looking For Toby (blue & red) battles out the finish with Dancing Roe (purple) and Georges Conn (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Looking For Toby ran out a shock 20/1 winner of the Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Maiden Hurdle, scoring under Kevin Sexton for Prunella Dobbs.
The seven-year-old son of Rashar has thirteen point-to-point runs to his name, winning once at Ballinaboola in November of last year.
He was trained in 'points' by his owner John Hughes, and having just his second start on the racecourse, and his second run over hurdles, he chased the leaders for much of the contest.
The chestnut gelding, who was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, made headway into third before three out, and was ridden to dispute the lead before the next.
He came with his challenge at the last, hitting the front on the run-in, and keeping on well from there to score by a length and a quarter. Georges Conn kept on well after the last, but he had to settle for second under Davy Condon for Gordon Elliott at 9/4, while Dancing Roe the 11/8 favourite, was three lengths back in third under Alan Crowe for Christy Roche. Balynaclash Warior ran a cracker for Richie Rath and John Cullen, and he was still in the lead at the last, only to fade on the run-in, finishing fourth.
Prunella Dobbs said afterwards: "He's been running in point-to-points and that was just his second run over hurdles.
"He is a very honest horse who stays well and Kevin (Sexton) did a brilliant job.
"He is owned by a neighbour of mine, John Hughes, and he likes top of the ground."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
