Oneforgonzo lands some nice bets

Oneforgonzo landed some nice bets as he ran out a convincing winner of the Buy The Centenary Of Naas Racecourse Book By Turtle Bunbury Handicap Hurdle.

A faller on his handicap debut at Limerick last month, the Sean Aherne-trained six-year-old was available at 33/1 in early shows for this extended two-mile seven-furlong heat, eventually going off a 14/1 chance in the colours of Eoin Barry.

Settled towards rear on the outer by Sean O'Keeffe, the Dylan Thomas bay made progress from five out and travelled strongly in fifth on the approach to the straight.

A blunder two out did little to halt his momentum, as he edged to the front at the last and kept on strongly from there, coming home 13-lengths clear of Likable Chancer (6/1) and Cian Quirke.

The Garrett Power-trained Mahler Appeal (7/1) was another four-and-a-quarter lengths back in third, while Lispopple (20/1) was a length-and-a-quarter away in fourth.

Returned the 4/1 favourite (from 8s early), Padraigs Joy finished fifth under Jack Gilligan for Alice Curran.

"He's very big and he's immature. He's 17 hands and he's very weak, I was surprised the way he did it to be honest," Aherne revealed.

"All the horses were very much out of form for a long time. In fairness to the man who owns him he gave me a lot of help to get him right so I appreciate that a lot.

"He's a nice horse, in that grade anyway. Hopefully when he strengthens up and develops he'll go on to do something better."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson