Hartur D'arc jumps the last ahead of High City Roller © Photo Healy Racing
Tom Gibney sent out his second winner in two days for owner Derek Kierans when Hartur D'arc (4/1, from 8s this morning) won the 2m4f maiden hurdle for horses rated no higher than 116.
Darragh O'Keeffe was on board and he settled his mount in second place. Pushed along to head the front-running Attaboyarchie on the approach to the second-last, the winner was ridden to assert before the last but, in the end, was all out to hold on by a neck from the strong-finishing High City Roller
An expensive purchase after winning a point-to-point for Pat Turley, the Diamond Boy gelding had won a Cork bumper and was placed on hurdles debut before losing his form in mid-winter.
O'Keeffe said: "He had a great run on his first try over hurdles at Navan and we thought that he'd come on from it but if anything he went backwards on his next three starts. Tom found a little issue with him but thankfully now it's all behind him. I'd say that win will do his confidence the world of good.
"The race wasn't really run to suit, we didn't go much of a gallop and I don't think he is a horse that would make his own running. Even when showing him the first hurdle he was having a good look at it.
"Tom does a great job with his horses and Derek Kierans is a great supporter of the yard. We had a nice winner in Ballinrobe last night with Ballystone."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
