Tag Man (Rachael Blackmore) pecks on landing at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Tag Man readily landed the odds in the opening John J Galvin Maiden Hurdle at Listowel but not before giving supporters a fright at the final flight.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding won a bumper at the Punchestown Festival last year and had been placed a number of times since over hurdles including at Killarney last month.
The 4/6 shot travelled well to assert approaching two out and was well clear when making a mistake at the last and pecking badly.
Rachael Blackmore kept the partnership intact and ultimately came home an easy 14 lengths winner from River Tara with Secrecies Of Stone a short-head back in third.
Blackmore said, "He has been knocking on the door so it is great to get that today. After he won his bumper, we thought it wouldn't be long before he won over hurdles but has taken his time.
"He settled and jumped better on the whole and I was glad we got to the back of the last!
"He had good form coming into the race and you'd expect him to do that.
"The ground (officially yielding to soft) is a bit dead."
Quotes by Tom Weekes
