Parkers Hill (Niall McCullagh) beats National Guard (Donnacha O'Brien)© Photo Healy Racing
Owner Paul Smith saw his colours carried to victory in the opener at Leopardstown, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, ahead of his father Derek's familiar purple and white. Smith junior's Parkers Hill (6/1) held off National Guard (2/11) by a neck.
The Johnny Murtagh trained Parkers Hill, with Niall McCullagh up, made most, and despite drifting a little to his right inside the last he held Ballydoyle's National Guard.
"We always thought he was a very nice horse and he ran very well the first day," said Murtagh.
"Niall always said he'd like better ground and he'll probably go seven furlongs. He's a nice big horse who should mature well and we think he's up to stepping up.
"He's a very straight-forward horse, does everything pleasingly and is a nice ride in the morning. Hopefully he's on an upward curve.
"I haven't really looked beyond today. Today was the day really. I didn't enter him in anything big yet but there are plenty of races there.
"He's won his maiden now so I might just give him a little bit of time and see if he can develop into a nice horse for the end of July/August."
Meanwhile Smith later tweeted: "Thanks to my old friend @JohnnyMurtagh & all his team for Parkers Hills (No Nay Never) win at Leopardstown today."
(GC & EM)
