Paddys Planet, far side, sees off Eternal Story© Photo Healy Racing
Paddys Planet and Barry Browne pulled out more in Limerick to win a battle with Eternal Story in the two mile three furlong maiden hurdle.
The pair both delivered their moves approaching the second last where strong-travelling hesitated allowing Paddys Planet to land with a lead of a length.
Eternal Story was ridden by Shane O'Callaghan to close at the final flight, Paddys Planet touched down with a lead of half a length and, try as Eternal Story did, he was the same margin in arrears at the line.
The winner was backed down to 10//1 favourite from the 5/1 runner-up. Crosshouse Boy was three and three quarter lengths back in third at 9/2.
Trainer Ross O'Sullivan said: “His owner, Richard Murphy, is from England and it’s his first horse. He bought him during the summer, off Colin Motherway, on the recommendation of Jamie Codd after he won his point to point in Tipperary. He had a run in Galway the first day and probably needed it, and this was the ideal race.
“It’s great for Richard. He always wanted to have a horse in training, and now he’s at the stage where his business is going well enough that he can. We went to a couple of the sales to buy one and we couldn’t manage to get one because they were making so much money, but Jamie recommended this lad, so it’s great.
"He’s out of a black-type horse (Lead Kindly Light) and will definitely be a lovely three-mile chaser.”
This was jockey Browne's 60 career winner which saw him ride out his 3lb claim.
He said: "It didn't happen overnight but we eventually got there and it is a big achievement for me.
"I thought starting out I might struggle to ride out the 7lb (claim) but we got there in the end thank God."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
