Suprise Package (Darragh O'Keeffe) leads Cash Back© Photo Healy Racing
Suprise Package returned to winning ways when taking the featured E Tarrant & Sons Banteer Hurdle at Cork this afternoon.
The Peter Fahey-trained gelding won the Imperial Cup at Sandown last year and also ran well a few days later in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but was subsequently sidelined for over a year.
A few runs on the Flat have returned him in good order, although riding plans had to changed as Sam Ewing, who was transferred to Cork University Hospital for X-rays on his leg after a fall in the opener, was replaced by Darragh O’Keeffe.
The 2/1 chance narrowly headed the front-running favourite Cash Back just before two out and drew clear on the run-in to beat that rival by four lengths.
Fahey, who saddled four winners at the Galway Festival, said: “In fairness Paul (Leech, owner) picked out this race a couple of months back when we started him back in training.
“The plan was to run at Leopardstown on the Flat and then come here but he took the run in Leopardstown and we gave him an extra run in Ballinrobe which left him really well for today.
”It’s a pity Sam got a fall earlier and hopefully he’s ok. Darragh won a big race at Punchestown on him and deserved a spin on him.
“It’s great to get him back. He’d a nasty enough injury but he seems to be coming back right now. It was a nice race today and hopefully he’ll go on from that to handicap hurdles or go back on the Flat for a maiden.
“We’ll have good fun with him and hopefully all his issues are well behind him.
“He probably won’t go over fences this season. He’s after having three quick runs but was very gross at home and I couldn’t get the weight off him.
“Paul is home for the week and we have Freedom To Dream out for him on Friday so hopefully he runs a big race for him.”
