Winter Breeze is well clear at the last in Ballinrobe© Photo Healy Racing
Winter Breeze landed a bit of a touch in Ballinrobe when decisively wining the extended two and a half mile maiden hurdle.
Mick Winters sent the six-year-old up from Cork on the back of a sixth place in a 16-runner maiden hurdle at Killarney last month.
Niall Madden settled him in second throughout, just off the leader Rocky Court
Winter Breeze was almost on terms at the penultimate flight where he pecked on landing.
Madden soon had him travelling well again and the pair took over from Rocky Creek approaching the three furlong pole. Itsonthelist appeared to be the main danger as he moved into second and tracked Winter Breeze coming to the two marker.
Winter Breeze galloped away though on the home bend and readily went clear. He popped the last and hit the line six and a half lengths to the good in justifying 6/4 favouritism. He had been 5/2 in the morning.
Mick Winters said: "In fairness to Niall Madden he's not getting all these fierce chances but gave a good assessment of the horse the last day at Killarney when he said he'd be better with more of a 'dig' (ground) and going the other way.
"He was entered at Mallow but the ground wasn't what he wanted. His syndicate (Bweeng, Co Cork based Saints & Sinners Syndicate) are very easy to train for and while they were disappointed, waited for today instead."
"He's a big awkward bugger and will run in plenty of those middle of the road races. He's out of a half-sister to Earthmover so will make a chaser long-term."
Itsonthelist was the on-course gamble from 12/1 to 17/2 and landed the place part of the bets by taking second. He was two and a half lengths in front of Kentucky Lass (25/1).
On stable star Rebel Fitz, Mick Winters said: "He came out of his (Galway) race very well - surprisingly well.
"He has the option of the easier option (Slan Abhaile) at Listowel but if the ground came up nice, he could run over three miles in the Kerry National.
"Mikey O'Connor rode him to win (the Slan Abhaile) last year and would ride him if he ran in the same race again."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
