Coolmeen Park springs 50/1 surprise

The well-bred Coolmeen Park sprang a surprise in thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle, scoring under Ben Harvey for Ellmarie Holden.

Out of a sister to 2011 Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby, the Walk In The Park bay was bought for E140,000 at the Goffs Land Rover Sale in 2021.

Having disappointed in two point-to-point starts, he finished a well-beaten fifth on his racecourse debut at Tramore on New Year's Day.

Sent off a 50/1 chance (100/1 in early shows) this afternoon, he was settled in mid-division by Harvey, taking closer order on the approach to the straight.

Ridden in third after two out, he came with his challenge at the last and edged to the front inside the final 100 yards, going on to prevail by a neck.

Fellow outsider Soldier Solid was the one just denied, with this Pat Flynn trained gelding returned at 40/1 under Gary Noonan.

.Sunchart (9/4) was three lengths away in third, while Bialystok (5/6f) faded in the closing stages after attempting to make all and he eventually finished fourth.

"We liked him and the nicer ground suited him," Holden, who trains the winner for her mother Catherine, commented.

"We ran him in point-to-points at the start of the season but he just needed two miles and nicer ground. He's more of a hurdler. He did it well.

"We'll see what happens now and maybe there will be a sale coming up for him."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson