Conor and Eric McNamara pictured after completing their brace© Photo Healy Racing
My Friend The Wind completed a quick-double for Eric and Conor McNamara, as he came from off the pace to claim the second divide of the On-Course Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.
Getting in as a reserve and returning to action for the first time since March, the Sholokhov eight-year-old was sent off a 12/1 chance.
Settled towards rear and not fluent at the first and fourth, he soon received reminders and improved his position.
Poised to challenge on the approach to two out, he swept to the front on the run to the last, keeping on well under pressure in the closing stages to see off the effort of Miss Laura by two-and-a-half lengths.
The runner-up was returned at 16/1 under Darragh O'Keeffe for Brendan Walsh, while Glenmalure Lodge (7/2) was another four-and-a-quarter lengths away in third.
Returned the 10/3 favourite, Tullyhogue Fort finished fifth.
"I was hoping he'd run well, he's definitely a horse that runs better fresh. He's just a hard horse to know what day to catch him on," the winning rider commented.
"The race kind of went in snatches but I was able to ride a race on him towards the outer where the ground was a bit better in places.
"Dad had the two horses fit, well and ready. I suppose we had the view of coming here today and then going on to Listowel.
"I'm not sure about going back over fences with him, maybe around here or Galway with the Easyfix fences he might be okay, but at Limerick last Christmas he was just all at sea. Jumping the fences there took too much energy out of him on the winter ground. Maybe we might get another handicap hurdle out of him.
"Sean Curran (winning owner) is a very nice man who had Faltering Fullback with us and it would be nice to get another winner at Listowel for him."
Eric & Conor McNamara had earlier claimed the first divide of this two-mile six-furlong contest with Storm Mahler
STEWARDS REPORT
Mr Alan O'Sullivan, rider of Rewrite The Script trained by Eugene M. O'Sullivan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount's saddle slipped during this race.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
