Tourboy jumps the last under Ian McCarthy© Photo Healy Racing
Tourboy who is a half-brother to Black Hercules, put two disappointing efforts well behind him, as he ran out a comfortable winner of the Punchestown For Events Maiden Hurdle.
Well beaten in bumpers at Stratford and Punchestown last month, the Mark Fahey trained gelding was sent off an unconsidered 33/1 chance this evening.
Settled in mid-division he was sixth with a circuit to race. He made good progress to lead after three out, before he made a mistake at the next.
He quickly regained his composure, and soon had all his rivals off the bridle. His rider Ian McCarthy never had to get serious, and he was pushed out to win by four and half lengths.
The 11/8 favourite Coeur Joyeaux finished second under Mark Walsh for Sandra Hughes, while Gettysburg Address (7/2) was another four and a quarter lengths back in third for Sean Flanagan and Noel Meade.
The easy to back Senewalk (evens out to 6/4) finished a disappointing fourth.
Fahey said afterwards: "We're not surprised as we always thought a lot of the horse.
"We brought him to England and thought he'd win there. Then he came back here for the festival and disappointed in the bumper so we said we'd kick on over hurdles.
"We think he's a very, very good horse and thank God he put it all together. Ian gave him a brilliant ride. He had rode plenty of work on him and had a lot of faith in the horse.
"The only mistake he made was the bad mistake at the second last and he did well to keep the momentum going."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards fined Michael G. Cleary, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Back In Black, in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
