Rodger Roo and Roger Loughran jump the last in Kilbeggan© Photo Healy Racing
Dessie Hughes is the leading trainer at Kilbeggan from 2010 and has a healthy level stake profit at the Co Westmeath track which was boosted by Rodger Roo winning the opener at 201/ this evening.
She was always in the van in this mares' maiden hurdle, racing in third off a pace set by Fire Dawn Roger Loughran guided her to the front after the second last on the long run to the final flight. She was stalked through by 7/4 second favourite Well Tuned who looked poised to deliver a telling move.
However, she didn't get on terms with Rodger Roo who tightly hugged Kilbeggan's bends and came home by three and three quarter lengths. Fire Dawn at 8/1 took third behind Well Tuned. Padraig's Joy the 5/4 favourite, weakened out of contention and was a head out of the places in fourth.
Dessie Hughes said: "She wasn't showing us much, but the dam (Just Cassandra) didn't win until she was seven and then she won quite a few. She's really only learning how to race and she likes firm ground. That's the key to her."
Kevin Smith was unseated from Cornahilt Boru at the second hurdle. He was taken to Tullamore Hospital to have a neck injury examined.
The Stewards requested a report from D. T. Hughes, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Rodger Roo, winner, as compared with its recent form. The trainer reported that he got the filly last year, but had to send her home for a break because she trained up light. This year, the filly was still weak, but has been strengthening up all the time and he got her to a stage today where he could have her ridden more forcefully than in her previous runs, up with the pace throughout, and this may have brought about any improvement in form. Having considered the report, the Stewards noted the explanations offered.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
