Sean Flanagan looks back for dangers as Hidden Future comes home a clear winner© Photo Healy Racing
Sean Flanagan recorded his first win since last September as he took the Smullen Transport Supporting Naas GAA Beginners Chase aboard the Colin McBratney trained Hidden Future
The 7yo son of Akbar was a decent performer over hurdles but hadn’t shown the same level of form since going over fences and he ran poorly on his handicap debut at Navan last weekend in the race won by Barneys Honour.
Having raced in mid-division he closed up turning into the straight and he hit the front before the second last.
He kept on well from there to score by four and three parts of a length from the Willie Mullins trained, Emmet Mullins ridden Capspeed in second at 10/3. Slew Charm (20/1) ran a decent race to finish fifteen lengths back in third under Roger Loughran for Sarah Dawson while the 11/4 favourite Johannisberger finished a disappointing last of the ten under Paul Carberry for Noel Meade.
The winner was the subject of a late market move going from 16/1 into 9/1 before the off.
Colin McBratney said afterwards: "He jumped terrible last week at Navan. It was his first time in a handicap and he got a bit of a scare at the second and missed the ditch. He never travelled and was never happy after that.
"Davy (Russell) said we would be better off giving him another spin in a beginners chase for him to get his confidence back.
"He is in good old heart. His owners are Conor McGurk, Sam Downey and Jim Marley and that is their first winner in Ireland. They’ve had winners in Ayr and Perth but that’s their first winner in Ireland."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
