Hazran and Denis O'Regan© Photo Healy Racing
The Three Rocks Maiden Hurdle went to Hazran (14/1, from 18s) who got a well-judged ride from Denis O’Regan and just held on for a half-length success from the staying-on Homme D’un Soir (13/8). Get My Drift (25/1) ran a pleasing race on debut to be third but the 5/4 favourite Gaspar Du Seuil didn’t jump well back in fourth.
The Aga Khan-bred winner, by Lope De Vega, was runner-up four times on the Flat last year for Mick Halford before being bought for E52,000 by current connections. This was a big step-up on his previous runs over hurdles, the best of which was a third place finish at Killarney in August.
Winning trainer Eugene O’Sullivan said: "Seamie Heffernan actually said he loves being in front so it was the plan today to make it if we could, get an easy lead and see where we'd go from there.
"He is a nice horse that was bought to be dual-purpose. It has just taken us a while to get the swing of things with him.
“We'll tip away with him under both codes. He'll probably go for a novice next, if we can find the right one. The novices are a bit more competitive than the maidens but we'll try to find something.
"The track suited him and going left suited him. In fairness to Denis he gave him a very good front-running ride, he mightn't get it as easy the next time.
“There are days in him and he will be a chaser, he is a brilliant jumper."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
