Pavilion gets there at the End
Pavilion End and Keithen Kennedy (nearest) beat Babich (centre)
© Photo Healy Racing
Pavilion End got up on the line to make a winning start under Flat rules at Dundalk this afternoon.
The Charles O’Brien-trained gelding had run in three bumpers last year, his best effort when sixth to Windbeneathmywings at Cork in July.
He went to post a 16/1 shot today in the mile-and-a-half apprentice maiden, having traded as big as 40/1. Babich wore down front-runner Ice Opera inside the final furlong but was pipped at the death as Keithen Kennedy lunged late on Pavilion End to secure a short-head success.
Kennedy said: "Charles spoke to me before the race and he just said that he would probably be a bit slow out of the gates, which he was - he was dead right.
"He told me not to panic and, that if he was slow away, just to let him tip around behind them and see what he does.
"He did find and he's a gorgeous horse."
When asked if he thought he was up, he replied: "I didn't to be honest. I thought the way Jack's (Kearney on Babich) luck is going that he still had me!"
(Quotes by Michael Graham)