Charlie Luciano stayed on strongly under Liam McKenna to win for Noel Meade. © Photo Healy Racing
Charlie Luciano completed a hat-trick over hurdles when staying on strongly under Liam McKenna to land the opening Bar One Racing Quick Deposit & Withdraw Novice Hurdle at Bellewstown.
A winner at Kilbeggan in April, the Noel Meade trained four-year-old then reverted to the flat without success, before again tasting victory under NH rules at Downpatrick last month.
Sent straight into the lead from flag fall this afternoon, McKenna dictated the pace aboard the gelding, holding enough in reserve to see off the late bid of Calico
The pair had the race between them from the second last but it was the Meade trained son of Bobby's Kitten who kept on best to score by half-a-length.
Winning rider Liam McKenna said: "Thanks to Noel and the lads for keeping me on him.
"He stayed well in Downpatrick and he did the same again today.
"He jumped out and set a good gallop and all he did was keep galloping and keep finding.
"He got challenged going to the last and he really had to dig deep, and he did. He was just holding her off.
"He's as genuine as they come and, when you do ask him, he will come. He's got bags of scope and lucky enough he needed it today over that trip."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
