Grey horse Future Romance finishes off best© Photo Healy Racing
Future Romance stayed on stoutly to prevail in division one of the extended mile and a half handicap at Tipperary.
The grey mare hadn't been out since falling in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown in November last year.
Wayne Lordan was hard at work on board her entering the home straight but the mare kept boxing on just behind the leaders.
She was ridden a furlong and a half down and found more to grab a narrow lead with 100 yards left. The 16/1 shot kept on to beat Take A Turn (18/1) by a length and a quarter. No Trouble (12/1) came in the same distance away in third.
Trainer Aidan Howard said: "She was very good but it was a very ordinary handicap and Wayne gave her a great ride and was good and positive. She seemed to get the run of the race and the bit of an ease in the ground helped.
"She is a very well-bred mare and we'll probably go for something similar. I'm hoping she'll be good enough to win a little hurdle."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
