Goraibhmaithagat (near side) and Simon Torrens© Photo Healy Racing
JP McManus suffered a reverse in the opening Mervyn Gray Construction Maiden Hurdle but the champion owner enjoyed better fortune in division two of the two-mile event at Navan with 16/1 shot Goraibhmaithagat
The son of Flemensfirth won a point-to-point at Knockanard but was easy to back here on his debut under Rules drifting out from 5/1 overnight.
The Colm Murphy-trained gelding made headway to challenge approaching the final flight and was one of three in the air together at the last along with Autoportrait and the front-running Grimaud
Simon Torrens’ mount proved the strongest on the run-in keeping on well to beat Autoportrait, who was backed from 8/1 into 100/30, by two lengths with Grimaud finding no extra a further six lengths away in third.
McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said, “He did his job nicely in the point-to-point and sure we came here hoping he would run a nice race, and improve for the run.
"He did it nicely and jumped well and everything - delighted with him.
"They mightn't have gone mad in the race, but you'd like the way he picked them up and stayed on.
"A fine, big, nice horse. It is a grand start for him."
When asked if he could go for something at Christmas, he replied: “He's not in any of the fancy races there, but I'd say we could be looking at something more in the new year.
"We'll see anyway - he's definitely not in any of the early closers."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
