The Last Marju and Denis O'Regan pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Wicklow Bloodstock (Ireland) Ltd recorded their third success of the July Festival at Killarney, as The Last Marju came out on top in the Dawn Hi Lo Milk Beginners Chase.
The versatile Denis Cullen trained six-year-old was a respectable third of four on his debut over fences at Roscommon last month, recovering well after almost coming to grief five out.
As short as 9/1 in early shows, the son of Marju eventually went off a friendless 16/1 chance this afternoon, and improved to lead after the third.
Joined in the straight, he was just headed by Gusty Rocky (also 16s) at the last, but kept on best under pressure on the run-in to prevail by three parts of a length.
Jody McGarvey was aboard the runner-up for Pat Flynn, while 9/4 chance Roconga was another seven and a half lengths back in third. Morgan made a race ending mistake at the fifth, hampering and bringing down Lion In His Heart in the process.
The former was sent off the 11/8 favourite under Davy Russell, and was pulled up shortly after that error.
Cullen said afterwards: "I'm delighted with that. He had a good start in Roscommon, he was just unfortunate to miss the first one down the back. They just seemed to have got their wires crossed in Roscommon but stepped up from there.
"Denis gave him a grand ride, and hopefully he'll keep going the right way for us. He's finding it a bit easier over fences than he did over hurdles - the smaller fields suit him. He likes to bowl along up there and do his own thing.
"When the other horse came to him he put his head down and battled on.
"Nick (Peacock of owners Wicklow Bloodstock Ltd), unfortunately, couldn’t make it here but that's his third winner of the week (after the Willie Mullins-trained pair Wicklow Brave and Easy Game), and it's nice that this fellow didn’t let the side down, coming from a different camp."
"We'll have a look at Galway for him."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
