Tullypole Annie, near side, takes the honours© Photo Healy Racing
As racecourse commentator Gary O'Brien said: "The good times keep on rolling for Paddy O'Hanlon!"
The recent Irish Grand National winner started the new jumps season with a winner in Down Royal yesterday and quickly grabbed another on Tullypole Annie at Ballinrobe.
She was on the leader Time To Bite s tail over the second last and took over with two and a half furlongs to travel.
She was followed through and closely attended to by Run Like Fada and the pair moved clear of the remainder on the run-in.
Tullypole Annie took a few lengths out of her rival straightening for home and was strong on the far rail as she kept on to prevail by two and a quarter lengths at 15/2. Peace Party (9/2) finished well to pip Run Like Fada (14/1) by a nose for second.
Trainer Peter Flood said: “We’re based in Kilcock and we've had 35 or 40 point-to-point winners and a hunter chase winner (in Cork).
“The Jolly Boys Syndicate are from Summerhill and Trim, and two of my cousins are involved in it.
“She’d a good run the last day and we thought she had come on a bit. Unfortunately Barry Browne couldn’t ride her with it being it was a 7lb claimers’ race because he’s ridden her all the way along and been a good help to us. But it was great to get Paddy (O’Hanlon).
"We only started schooling her to keep her sweet when she was running on the Flat but, in fairness, she enjoys her jumping.
"I think there is something for her in Wexford in 10 days and I think there could be something shortly after in Wexford."
This was Flood's first winner on a restricted licence as his hunter chase winner came when he had a hunter chase licence.
The Stewards interviewed R.P. Geoghegan, rider of fifth-placed Boston Brahmin concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, R.P. Geoghegan accepted that he had breached the whip guidelines for frequency and apologised for his actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that R.P. Geoghegan was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended R.P. Geoghegan for one raceday.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
