Dorans Boy and Gary Noonan© Photo Healy Racing
Dorans Boy opened his account at the sixth attempt when showing a very willing attitude to land the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle at Cork.
The Eoin McCarthy-trained gelding was strongly pressed by Viceregent on the run-in but the 14/1 chance dug deep under Gary Noonan to prevail by a neck.
The two principals stretching ten lengths clear of Female Approach in third.
McCarthy said, “He was tough. He showed promise last year in Kilbeggan and it’s just taken a while for him to put it together. Hopefully he’ll progress from here and I’m delighted for his owner David Kelly who is a good supporter of the yard.
“You like to see the way he found plenty when the other horse came to him and he got his jumping together.
“He’s already on a handicap mark of 102 and hopefully he won’t change it.”
