Good Land driven home by Finny Maguire© Photo Healy Racing
An absence of almost two years proved no hindrance to Good Land who delivered by three and a quarter lengths in Wexford's bumper.
The Blue Bresil gelding had come home runner-up in his sole start in a bumper at Fairyhouse when last seen.
The 7/4 joint favourite travelled into contention for Finny Maguire behind Attaboyarchie in the final quarter of a mile and got the measure of that rival in the final furlong.
He kept on well to win going away from 25/1 shot Attaboyarchie who backed from 50/1. The other 7/4 joint favourite, Landrake finished third and was beaten four lengths by the winner.
Owner/trainer Barry Connell said: "He has been off the track for two years. He injured his sesamoid on his first run when he was second. He had been working well recently and we were going to run him over hurdles, but we said we'd go for a bumper because his work was good enough to win one.
"He probably wasn't in love with the heavy conditions here. He is a classy horse and you'd see him maybe being a horse for Leopardstown at Christmas. We will look at keeping him for Leopardstown and going over hurdles, but we will see.
"He is a nice horse to have and I'd say he will be better on nice ground because he has plenty of gears."
The Stewards interviewed Miss E.J. Sweeney, rider of Attaboyarchie, concerning her use of the whip in closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Miss E.J. Sweeney stated that she had not realised she had gone over the numbers allowed but accepted she was in breach of R 10. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards found Miss Sweeney in breach of R 10.3(g) (frequency) and having taken her previous record into account they suspended her for one raceday.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
