Bullet Street comes with his challenge on the outside as Gentleman Duke (No 9) leads over the last© Photo Healy Racing
The opening race at Limerick this afternoon, the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle, went to the uncle/nephew combination of Martin and Shane Hassett as they combined to score with 20/1 outsider Bullet Street
The 4yo son of Arakan had one run to his name before today, that coming in a bumper over the course in April where he was well beaten by Summer Star.
That run was on good ground but on heavy ground this afternoon he made headway approaching the third last and was sixth entering the straight.
He was a closer fifth at the last and made further headway to lead on the run-in, keeping on well to score cosily by a length and a quarter.
The Arthur Moore trained Gentleman Duke was sent off the even money favourite under Gareth Malone but he couldn’t match the winner on the run-in and had to settle for second.
Winning trainer Martin Hassett said afterwards: "This lad is a serious horse. We knew we had a serious horse going for the Listed bumper with him earlier in the year. He is an absolute machine.
"I got him for nothing three and a half years ago at the sales. The man who sold him to me (Denis Bergin) said to me that if he didn’t sell that he would take him.
"He is for sale. It might not have been the strongest of races but he is a fair one. It will take a fair few pounds to buy him.
"He travelled well the whole way and he likes soft ground."
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
