Meet And Greet (left) battles it out with Marvel De Cerisy© Photo Healy Racing
Oliver McKiernan sponsored the maiden hurdle at Naas through his Cavan Developments company and the Rathcoole trainer duly saddled Meet And Greet to take division one of the two-mile event.
The two hurdles in the straight were omitted due to the low lying sun leaving just four hurdles to be jumped and effectively a run-in of about half a mile. Marvel De Cerisy set the pace and was still the one to catch in the straight.
However, Meet And Greet responded to Barry Browne’s urgings and the 9/2 chance got to the front well inside the final furlong ultimately beating the front-runner by three and three quarter lengths.
The pair stretched clear of Brooklynn Glory who was a further 13 lengths away in third.
McKiernan said, "“I'm delighted with that. Barry gave him a grand ride, he was very strong on him at the end and he needed it.
“He would have loved to have the two hurdles there, unfortunately they can't be there for safety reasons, as he's a lovely quick jumper at home.
“We did have a bit of a concern about the ground, I was here early this morning and there was a lot of rain fell. I just thought it might take the edge of him a bit coming up the straight. They went quick enough early on but he finished very strong. He'll stay further than two miles by the look of things.
“He had a few niggly problems since the last day but that was good. The rail helped him in the end, I thought for a while that Rachael was holding him. I'm delighted we won it anyway.
"On a little bit better ground he'd be even better and he'll probably be heading for Fairyhouse and Punchestown.”
(GC & AM)
