Maigh Dara is clear under Paul Power with 50 yards left to race© Photo Healy Racing
Maigh Dara ran out a comfortable winner of the bumper at Downpatrick, the Come Back And Visit Us Flat Race, landing the spoils under Paul Power for trainer Kieran Purcell.
The four-year-old son of Cacique made his debut at Kilbeggan last month, finishing eleven lengths seventh to Pink Hat, and he was sent off a 14/1 chance today.
Having raced mainly in third, he was pushed along over three furlongs out to close on the leaders.
He hit the front two furlongs from home, and he kicked on in the straight, coming home five and a half lengths in front of the 11/8 favourite Alton Bay for Peter Fahey and Patrick Mullins, while Do Na Paisti (7/2) was four and three parts of a length back in third under Johnny O’Neill for Paul Fahey.
Kieran Purcell said afterwards: "The track suited him down to the ground. We fancied him in a big way coming up but he got upset in the traffic.
"He is a horse with scope and he will make a fine chaser.
"He will go for a maiden hurdle next and he will take a cut in the ground. The track did a good job with the ground today."
The winner cost €3,500 as a yearling at Goffs in September of 2010, before he was purchased for €8,000 as a three-year-old at Tattersalls last August.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
