Aldo The Apache (blue) beats Perryville (centre) with One For Joe just coming into the picture (nearest)© Photo Healy Racing
66/1 shot Aldo The Apache burst through on the run-in to narrowly land the spoils in a thrilling three-way finish to the E M Gray & Company Ltd Opportunity Maiden Hurdle at Down Royal.
9/4 joint favourite Look Dont Touch went to the front before the third last in the two-and-a-half mile contest but was joined going to the second last by One For Joe who had a good look at the flight.
Close in behind that pair was the gamble, and other joint favourite, Shake Him Up (100/1 last night) who also ran around at the penultimate flight.
Look Dont Touch had the advantage jumping the last but was swamped in the closing stages.
Aldo The Apache, who had been under pressure in fifth over the second last, came through to gain a narrow lead close home and just edged the verdict at the line under Paul Cawley. Perryville was denied by a head with another short-head back to the fast finishing One For Joe on the outer.
Look Dont Touch eventually finished fourth with Shake Him Up back in fifth.
The Colm Murphy-trained winner had failed to complete in his first two outings and was always towards rear on his most recent run at Clonmel last month.
Murphy said: "He has been very unlucky - he was going to be fourth here (early last month) when a horse took him out at the last. He's slow but he stays going.
"Paul was very good on him. The further he goes the better he'll be so I'm delighted with that.
"He hops off that ground so you'll see plenty of him over the summer. We'll see what the handicapper gives him and that will decide everything."
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
