King 'cool as a breeze' in riding first winner over flights

Wojood served up a 25/1 surprise in the extended two mile handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe.

Strong-travelling Double Talkin Jive moved to up to head Percy Pi before the last. The latter made a slight mistake and Double Talkin Jive was soon ridden by Brian Hayes to go and win his race approaching the home bend.

They hadn't put it away, though, in the final furlong and Wojood, who stayed on before the last, was ridden into a threatening second in the final 150 yards.

He kept his momentum up as Double Talkin Jive began to paddle for home. The pursuer grabbed the leader in the final 50 yards and took the honours by three parts of a length under Daniel King, riding his first winner over flights. He has been seen to winning effect on the Flat.

A wall of horses surged home late and it was Peace Party who took second at 10/1 with Double Talkin Jive a short head back in third at 11/1.

Trainer Denis Hogan said: "That's Dan's first winner over hurdles and I'm delighted for him.

"He's as cool as a breeze. I had said to be third or fourth but they were obviously flying, so he used his head and didn't panic. He never left the rail whereas I would have come around the whole field, but that's Dan, cool as you like!

"He's quiet and you don't hear much out of him but he does his talking out on the track. This game will be his future because he's a tall lad and the weight is hard for him on the Flat.

"This horse was running on at Galway when he fell at the second-last and Shane (Mulcahy) said he was definitely not out of it, so we did quietly fancy him today even though this is a different sort of track.

"Fair play to the owners for letting Dan ride him because he doesn't have a lot of experience but he's a horseman, a good rider and he'll have a big future over jumps."

This was Wojood's fourth career success - two on the Flat and two over hurdles.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan