Killeemore Lad Philip Donovan win the William Hill Maiden Hurdle for the Lumper Lane Syndicate © Photo Healy Racing
Killeemore Lad quickened up well close home to cause a 66/1 upset for trainer Andrew Slattery in the William Hill Epic Value Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan.
In hindsight, the winner was perhaps overpriced given that he had run well at this venue last month when fourth in similar company. Having shown a liking for the tight track, he was arguably entitled to have gone off shorter.
However, a huge on course gamble on the Charles Byrnes trained Workforadime 8/1-10/3) possibly contributed to the drift of many of the bigger priced outsiders in the race. The latter could only manage sixth place at the finish but was rather unfortunate not to collect the each-way money, encountering plenty of traffic problems on the run-in.
Similar comments may well have applied to the eventual winner had the gaps not opened inside the final furlong when he looked to have nowhere to go. Fortunately for connections, Philip Donovan managed to find an opening and the horse did the rest.
When asked if he was surprised Donovan said:- “No, not at all. He's a nice horse, he ran well here the last day over two miles.
“I rode him during the week and I thought he had improved, he was well entitled to do that.
“I didn't know what was going on behind me but I was always happy, I never had a minutes worry.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
