Lightnin Hopkins holds off all challengers at Naas© Photo Healy Racing
Chris Hayes (reported that his mount hit ridges in running and became unbalanced), rider of odds-on favourite, Nurpur won't look back on the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Auction Maiden, the opener at Naas, with any great fondness but Gary Carroll on Lightnin Hopkins kept it simple from the front and he got the job done by three parts of a length.
The successful Kodiac gelding, second on his debut a fortnight ago at Fairyhouse, qualified for the £10,000 Racing Post Yearling Bonus and he is owned by Ger Lyons' great patron, Sean Jones.
Lyons said: "He's a typical one of ours in that he improved for the run. The plan was to take a lead today and not to do the donkey work but you always have to have a plan b.
"He's a listed type of horse and he'll improve again for that. He'd be better on quicker ground.
"We've been struggling to get our two-year-olds out this year but patience is paying off."
Nurpur didn't travel with the same fluency as she had done at Leopardstown almost two weeks ago but she endured a nightmare passage at the business end before staying on without threatening to be fifth of the six. (GC & EM)
