Landmark winner for Doyle at Leopardstown

Howyabud provided Wexford trainer Mary Ellen Doyle with her first winner when recorded a 25/1 shock in the opening Savills Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The well-bred Milan gelding, sporting the black and amber colours of former Kilkenny hurling star Charlie Carter who also bred the winner, filled the runner-up spot on all three previous starts in bumpers and a point-to-point but made no mistake here on his first outing over hurdles.

Jack Foley made virtually all on the four-year-old and after asserting to go three lengths clear before the final flight, extended his advantage on the run-in to beat the 11/10 favourite Horantzau D’airy by six lengths.

Secret She keeps kept on one paced a further five and a half lengths adrift in third.

Doyle, who trains near Enniscorthy, said “I only got my licence in March and that’s my first track winner.

“He had good bumper form coming here and ran well in a very good point-to-point in Monksgrange. We think a lot of him.”

(GC & AM)