Ballyhoura (right) challenges Uponthe Hoof (centre) at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Ballyhoura put a baffling performance at Kilbeggan last time well behind him when getting up in the final strides to pip favourite Uponthe Hoof in the two and a half miles maiden hurdle at Wexford.
The Beneficial gelding, a 13/2 chance, was reluctant to jump off on his previous start and never played any meaningful part but confirmed the promise of some earlier placed form here.
Uponthe Hoof, owned by a partnership including top golfer Lee Westwood and his manager Andrew “Chubby” Chandler” looked the one to beat approaching the straight.
However the 6/4 favourite found little under pressure on the run-in, and was out-pointed by a neck, with 40/1 shot Hello Louie a length and a quarter back in third.
Winning trainer Colm Murphy was absent but J P McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said, “It’s nice to see him get his head in front. He jumped well and travelled well.
“I don’t know what happened at Kilbeggan last time.”
