Young Finnegan and Ruby Walsh in full flight at Tipperary© Photo Healy Racing
Young Finnegan had a bloodless victory under Ruby Walsh when hacking up in the two mile maiden hurdle at Tipperary.
Walsh sat behind Barry Geraghty on Theatre Mill but moved into the lead before four out and Theatre Mill’s goose was cooked when he blundered at that flight.
From there it was more or less a procession as he cruised home by 12 lengths to justify 8/11 favouritism. Some bets were certainly landed as the seven-year-old trained by Robert Tyner had been 11/8 this morning.
“He’s a smasher! He’ll get a break now. He deserves his holidays,” Mary Tyner, wife of trainer Robert, said.
“Once he starts he’s nice and relaxed. He just wants to gallop. He was very fresh in Fairyhouse two runs back.
“He’ll come back for ‘Super Sunday’ here in October for a Grade 3 novice hurdle.” Popmurphy and Andrew McNamara tried to go with the winner into the home straight, but was never a danger and had to settle for second place at 8/1.
Rory’s Brother (9/1) under Denis Hogan took third, beaten a total of 20 lengths as the field came home at big intervals.
Robert Tyner has a 20 per cent strike-rate at Tipperary, however, that has been built on the back of chases and bumpers. This was his first hurdle success here in eight attempts since 2009.
It was Ruby Walsh’s seventh winner from his last 29 rides.
There were no less than nine horses pulled up as Young Finnegan proved different class from the front.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
