Guitar George (second from left) jumps the last in front© Photo Healy Racing
The well-supported Guitar George got off the mark on his ninth start over flights, as he took the opener at Clonmel, the Mylerstown Maiden Hurdle.
Placed twice previously, the Henry De Bromhead trained five-year-old was last seen finishing sixth to Swingbridge over fences at Tramore last month.
Available at 12/1 this morning, the Julian Taylor owned bay opened on-course at 8s, before going off a 6/1 chance under Kevin Sexton.
Sent straight to the front he made virtually all. He was pressed before two out and soon came under pressure, keeping on well on the run-in to score by a head.
The Garrett Power trained Balinaboola Steel ran well to finish second at 16/1 under Conor Maxwell, while English Pale (10s to 8s) was a length back in third under Donal McInerney for Jessica Harrington.
The 6/4 favourite Glan Y Gors finished fifth under Robbie Colgan for Alan Fleming. He appeared to be travelling best before two out, but didn't find much for pressure from the last.
De Bromhead said afterwards: "He actually ran well here as a four-year-old and we've tried different things like holding him up and various things but said we'd go back to our old tactics and it worked really well.
"It was a super ride from Kevin and he battled really well to the line.
"Kevin was with us years ago and during the year he was Champion Conditional Jockey and if he'd been riding all year, I don't think he would have been in this category (for riders who ridden less than ten winners in the past year) and seemed like a good man to get."
STEWARDS REPORTS
E. O'Connell, rider of Jennings Lane trained by Augustine Leahy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.
The Stewards enquired into possible interference in the closing stages of this race involving English Pale, ridden by D.J. McInerney, placed third, Balinaboola Steel, ridden by C.D. Maxwell, placed second and Guitar George, ridden by K.C. Sexton, placed first, where it appeared that interference may have occured. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judge's placings and took no further action.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
