Forty Foot Tom (right) comes to pass The Westener Boy at the last before going on to score under Adrian Heskin © Photo Healy Racing
The opening race on a seven race mixed card at Gowran this afternoon, the gowranpark.ie Maiden Hurdle, went to the 11/4 second favourite Forty Foot Tom for his trainer Daniel Miley with Adrian Heskin aboard. The Westener Boy who won so impressively on his racecourse debut for Mag Mullins in a bumper at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day, was sent off the odds-on 4/9 favourite on his first start for Colm Murphy and JP McManus.
He raced prominently early on before taking up the lead at the fourth flight where he stayed until the run-in.
Forty Foot Tom made good headway as they turned into the straight to dispute the lead at the last before picking off the favourite after the last before going on to score by two lengths.
The Westener Boy had to settle for second while there was a thirteen length gap back to the third placed horse who was Civena for John Berry and Paul Townend at 12/1.
The winner, who is a 7yo son of King's Theatre, was having his thirteenth start over hurdles today and after running in three handicap hurdles recently he was reverting back to maiden company today.
He of course won his bumper in impressive fashion on his debut at Navan back in December of 2009 but failed to build on the promise show there until today.
Winning trainer Daniel Miley said afterwards: "He has been an unlucky horse.
"It took him a while to settle in his races and he was boiling over a bit at the start of the season. We can ride him up with the bunch now.
"That will do him now and we will bring him back to go chasing next year."
Donal Murphy & Gary Carson
