Sunsetstorise (left) and Zabana race away from the last© Photo Healy Racing
Zabana followed up on his encouraging debut run over hurdles, as he took the Brendan Morris Memorial Maiden Hurdle under Robbie Colgan for Andrew Lynch.
The four-year-old son of Hailing was formerly trained on the level by Ken Condon, shedding his maiden tag on his last start for Condon at Tramore in October.
He finished third on his first start over timber at Limerick earlier this month (his debut run for Lynch), just over five lengths behind the winner Band Of Blood.
Sent off the 13/8 favourite, the Chris Jones owned gelding came to challenge the front running Sunsetstorise at the second last and they battled it out from there with Zabana just getting the better of his rival in the closing stages, going on to score by a length at the line.
Sunsetstorise ran a fine race to finish second under Paul Townend for Fran Flood at 13/2 while Ivanka (16/1) kept on well to take third, a further three and a half lengths back under Derek Fox for Noel Kelly. Big Vincey was well supported on-course from 7/2 into 9/4, but he never really looked like winning and finished a disappointing fourth under Barry Geraghty for Brian Hamilton.
Andrew Lynch said afterwards: "I thought he'd win today but I thought he'd win easier. Robbie said he hated the ground down the bottom and he was struggling through it.
"He’ll like it a bit better and a bit further as well. We’ll find something over two mile two for him now. He’ll stay jumping now as he is enjoying it.
"If he hadn’t missed the last two he would have won handier but we’re happy with that. At home he jumps hurdles like fences."
The winner was sold at Goffs last October for €31,000.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
