Papa's Way and Derek O'Connor had Paul Deegan smiling at Cork© Photo Healy Racing
Flat trainer Paul Deegan sent out his second winner over jumps when Papa's Way (4/1) got a deserved turn under Derek O'Connor in the Money Back On Fallers At Coral.ie (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle.
A course winner here at Cork on the level, the victorious Rakti gelding did everything right on the front end under O'Connor, but well-backed joint favourite Stolberg looked dangerous up the straight.
Try as the Limerick winner from Saturday might, he just couldn't get to Papa's Way, who had two and a quarter lengths in hand at the line.
Another well-supported market-leader, Fiddlers Bow was eight and a half lengths back in third.
"He met one the last day (Luckyinmilan). The man on board today was brilliant - class, different strawberries!" enthused Deegan.
"He (Derek O'Connor) said he loved it out in front and has a relaxed, lazy way of racing. I thought he'd be better over hurdles but he seems to be finding his level now.
"He'll come back here for the mile and a quarter Flat handicap he won last year, next."
(TW & EM)
