Wild Hunt, near side, a ready winner in Clonmel© Photo Healy Racing
Wild Hunt travelled all over the field and readily defied 12st 1lb in the Rosegreen Handicap Hurdle over three miles.
The five-year-old gelding, under trainer/jockey Denis Hogan, tanked along in contention before he was asked to go about his business in the final quarter of a mile.
He popped the last (normal two out) in the lead and strode right away in the final furlong to win as he pleased by seven lengths at 11/2. Emancipator the 3/1 favourite, couldn't lay a glove on him in second with Mick The Jiver (33/1) just behind in third.
Hogan said: "I thought he'd do that the last day at Punchestown but the track beat him. He likes to drop in but it was very hard to do that as the race was on the inside track and was too sharp.
"He was bred for a lot better than that and loves that ground and had form in bumpers on it.
"It's my first winner to ride in these colours (James McAuley) and the lads were saying not to retire until I had ridden a winner in them! It's good for them and this is the only horse they have with me now. They don't like jumpers and prefer Dundalk."
Wild Hunt is a full brother to Yibir, the winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar. He is also a full brother to multiple Group One winner Wild Illusion. Trip To Milan fell at the flight before the field went out on their final circuit and badly hampered Grey Habit causing her to unseat Tommy Brett. Grey Habit continued riderless and carried Ask and Answer out of the race approaching the final half mile.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
