But What, far side, sees off Addragoole© Photo Healy Racing
Andy Slattery's But What overcame a lengthy absence to make a winning return in the two mile maiden hurdle at Gowran Park.
He travelled notably well at the front but still had Blaze The Way and Addragoole in close attendance at the second-last hurdle.
Blaze The Way dropped off the the front pair on the run to the last and But What looked to have got the measure of Addragoole when he jumped it the better.
However, Addragoole really came at him on the run-in and But What had to be resolute as he fended off the challenger by half a length.
The winner was backed in from 5/1 to 10/3 while Addragoole, who has now finished second on all five starts, was the 11/10 favourite. Blaze The Way (11/4) was some 10 lengths adrift in third.
The trainer's brother Willie Slattery said: “He's always been a nice horse. He had a lovely run in Navan last year (third in September) and had a little touch of a tendon after it, so he had the year off.
“Hopefully, he'll be alright in the morning and we can keep going. He loves that ground, he wouldn't be a horse for the heavy winter ground.
“He loves a bit of nice ground, maybe a little bit slower than that, but you definitely wouldn't be going on winter ground.
“I'd imagine we'll be looking at Fairyhouse or Leopardstown, somewhere where the ground would be nice.
“I don't know where he'll fit in but he's a good horse.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
