Dark Note and Cian Quirke pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
The Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges Maiden Hurdle appeared a two horse race on paper and so it proved, with Dark Note (7/4) just getting the better of market rival Shajak (4/7f).
Placed on his last three starts and the most experienced runner in the line-up, the Andy Slattery-trained victor made virtually all under Cian Quirke.
Joined by Shajak from the second last, the pair had a good tussle from there, with Dark Note gaining the upper hand in the closing stages, prevailing by a neck at the line.
As expected, the front pair were 15-lengths clear of the third, with Mount Frisco occupying that position at the odds of 100/1.
"He had a very good run the last day against Henry de Bromhead's horse (Bowmore)," Quirke said of the For The Good Times Syndicate-owned gelding.
"When I heard Jack (Kennedy) come upsides me at the second last I knew he was under pressure and his horse probably had a couple of sloppy jumps which cost him a bit too.
"I flew the last and was quicker away from it than Jack and he galloped the whole way to the line. I think I won with a bit up the sleeve and hopefully he'll continue to progress."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
