Joshua Lane and Mark Walsh on the way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Cheltenham Bumper third placer from 2014, Joshua Lane won his first race on outing number thirteen when causing a 25/1 surprise under Mark Walsh in the Galway City & Salthill Publicans Rated Novice Hurdle.
The Gamut gelding was equipped with a first-time tongue-strap on his first outing for 149 days, and on the run-in he fended off 7/4 favourite Aspen Colorado by a length and three parts.
Both the Eddie Harty-trained Joshua Lane, and the Joseph O'Brien-handled and Barry Geraghty-partnered Aspen Colorado, are in the ownership of J P McManus.
Geraghty never looked overly content on Aspen Colorado, and that Galileo gelding's jumping didn't always come up to the mark.
"He was good today in fairness to him, but he has been very disappointing. He was third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, but we are here nearly three years later trying to win his first race," acknowledged Harty.
"He seems to run well fresh and he was in good form. We spotted this race for him. He wasn't going to be giving away weight to experienced horses in this race, but he was in the next.
"It ended up a nice race for him and I'm glad he won it. We were along time waiting but hopefully it won't be as long for his next one.
"I'll chat to Frank (Berry, McManus' racing manager) and Mark (Walsh) and see what they think. I thought he was going to be a decent horse early on but he hasn't been.
"It was a 0-123 handicap for novices really, and if he was running off the same mark in a real handicap you mightn't have got the same result."
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Mr Antolini trained by Garrett James Power, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(DM & EM)
