Upping The Anti and Rachael Blackmore© Photo Healy Racing
The Henry de Bromhead-trained Upping The Anti produced a fine front-running performance to open his account in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel.
Rachael Blackmore bounced out in front on the Valirann gelding but he was strongly pressed turning for home by short priced stable-mate More Than A Memory
That rival, sent off an 8/11 shot, just came under pressure going to the second last and took a heavy fall to leave Upping The Anti with a clear advantage.
The 9/2 shot stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to post a 12 length success over Where It All Began
The winner was stepping forward again having been placed in a maiden hurdle at Wexford last month.
De Bromhead trains the six-year-old for Alan Halsall and he said:- "It is nice to see him win for connections and I'm delighted for the Halsalls.
"He jumped brilliant and is a real chaser in the making. It is great to win his maiden hurdle and we'll see how we progress from there."
It was a bittersweet victory for the trainer with More Than A Memory suffering a fatal fall.
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
