Drive Time jumps the last on his way to victory under Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
After disappointing on the level at Killarney last time out, Drive Time bounced back to form as he took the feature race at Listowel this afternoon, the M.J. Carroll ARRO Handicap Hurdle.
Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, the 7yo son of King Cugat was sent off the 5/4 favourite carrying top weight of 11-10.
Galway Plate hero Bob Lingo (3/1) adopted front running tactics under Mark Walsh but was joined by the winner as they entered the straight and could soon offer no more.
Drive Time, who raced in second throughout, kicked on from there and despite making a slight mistake at the last he stayed on well to score by three and three parts of a length.
Carrying just 9-5 Bangonform ran on well to take second under Declan Bates for Davy Fitzgerald at the odds of 9/1.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said afterwards: "He had a lot of weight and with his American pedigree we worried about the sticky ground.
"I know he won on heavy ground at Punchestown but that was wet while today it isn’t.
"He looks a real stayer and Ruby said he would jump a fence. Today was the first time we really thought that and I will have to have a word with Mr Wylie (winning owner Graham Wylie) now.
"He might go for the Cesarewitch now or a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham."
Ruby Walsh added: "He did it well. We really fancied him in the Galway Hurdle but he fell. He travelled really well today and handled the ground even though we were worried about it. He jumped better than he ever did today."
Sadly the Thomond O'Mara trained Tornedo Shay was fatally injured after falling at the second last.
The son of Dr Fong won six races in his career the highlight being the Aon Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival of 2011.
He was also just beaten by a short head in a Grade 2 bumper at Navan in 2009 and was third in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown the follow year.
(On-course reporting by Thomas Weekes)
