Turnpike Trip and Kevin Brouder© Photo Healy Racing
The Grade Three Joe Mac Novice Hurdle at Tipperary was marred by a fatal penultimate flight fall for Way Back Home and Turnpike Trip eventually ran out victorious after a dramatic two miler.
A first graded winner for jockey Kevin Brouder, Turnpike Trip (6/4 favourite) had matters well in hand when getting the last wrong and doing the splits behind.
That opened the door in a serious way for Razoul but to Turnpike Trip’s great credit he got going well enough again to contain that rival by half a length.
"He looks ok now and we're hoping he will be as it did look nasty (at the final flight). He slipped in the ground and did well to win and was going away again at the line," said winning trainer Charles Byrnes.
"It was a good performance and he would have won well, by four or five lengths, only for the mistake.
"Yielding ground is his ground, not heavy, and we'll tip away in a novice somewhere next.
"The owners were keen to give Kevin (Brouder, riding without his 5lbs claim) the chance; I said to give him the chance as he got on well with him the last day. He rides him out at home so that means a bit too."
(TW & EM)
