Racegoers crowd around the parade ring to welcome back in Minella Foru and Tony McCoy© Photo Healy Racing
Minella Foru got the better of his market rival Very Wood as he took Grade 3 'For Auction' Novice Hurdle scoring under Tony McCoy for trainer Eddie Harty.
The JP McManus owned four-year-old son of King’s Theatre won his point-to-point on his debut at Lemonfield in March, when owned and trained by John Nallen, and he was subsequently purchased by McManus.
He then won on his track debut at Listowel, taking a maiden hurdle in comfortable fashion, and having opened at 2/1 last night with Paddy Power, he went from 5/4 to his starting price of 11/8 on-course.
Very Wood went off the 4/5 favourite (4/7 last night), and he was a very reluctant leader under Davy Russell for Noel Meade, jumping right throughout.
Minella Foru raced in second, and a fast jump at the last saw him hit the front, and he kept well on the run-in, outsprinting the ‘jolly’, going on to score by a length and a half. King Of The Picts (7/1) finished back in third, while Definite Elegance finished last of the four runners.
Tony McCoy said afterwards: "I'm very flattered with all the attention. I’ll try and get on with my job now and ride another 998 winners!
"He is a smart horse. It turned into a bit of a sprint after a messy race."
Eddie Harty added: "I'm delighted with that. I’m delighted for JP and to give AP a winner after his 4,000.
"Hopefully there is more to come with this horse. We will look for something next month at Fairyhouse or Leopardstown at Christmas.
"JP is as happy as he could be with him as it was a muddling race. We will stay at two miles for now, but having won his point-to-point we can go further."
Paddy Power have introduced the winner at 16/1 for the Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, while Boylesports go 20/1 about him for the Supreme Novices Hurdle.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
