Toye Native, blue cap, sets off in pursuit of Twin Plan© Photo Healy Racing
Toye Native (10/1) and Andrew Lynch came through with a powerful finish to beat Twin Plan by a length and a quarter in the mares hurdle over two miles at Down Royal. Tasitiocht was very well backed to score for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh. She was 11/10 this morning before opening at 8/11 at the track and being punted down to 1/2 on the off.
Walsh was hard at work on the 124-rated mare after halfway and she looked well held, but then stayed on late to be a close-up third at the finish, beaten a length and three parts in total.
Twin Plan (7/1) looked for all money to have this race sewn up as she forged clear before two out, but after the last she drifted left and was reeled in by Toye Native.
“I'm delighted for the owner Ian Lindsay, who has been in business for 25 years, so this will be a good celebration for him,” trainer Colin McBratney said.
“We thought she would run well and she's a nice filly. Andrew was saying before that she only had seven lengths to find on the favourite on Fairyhouse form. She suffered a horrendous cut that day and hasn't run since.
“The ground was probably fast enough for her and I told him to look after her down the hill.
“She'll probably have a break now and come back ready for when the ground is softer. She'll go straight over fences.”
Co Down trainer McBratney snapped a losing run of 35 runners at Down Royal with this success. Toye Native was 14/1 in trading this morning.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
