Now Is The Hour over the final flight in a fashion© Photo Healy Racing
Now Is The Hour picked up compensation in Fairyhouse for a tumble on his last start at Limerick and, in so doing, sealed a double for Gavin Cromwell and Sean Flanagan.
He was four lengths clear in Limerick over Christmas when he crashed out at the penultimate flight, but rectified that in the CJ Sheeran Group Maiden Hurdle over an extended 2m4f.
The 2/1 favourite saw his closest pursuer Jack Du Large come under the whip approaching two out, but a peck on landing did the leader no favours. Jack Du Large attempted to get on terms, but Now Is The Hour was having none of it and ground out a clear lead coming to the last.
He fluffed that flight, but landed in stride and was eased down in winning by an easy six and a-half lengths. Jack Du Large filled the runner-up berth at 16/1 and was half a length up on Magic Sadler (8/1).
Assistant trainer Garvan Donnelly said: “He deserved that. He was unlucky the last day, he just crumpled on landing when he looked like he had the race at his mercy.
“He's going to make into a nice chaser in time. He'll be better over fences, hopefully he'll progress again.”
Cromwell and Flanagan were also successful with Midnight It Is in Fairyhouse.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
