Champagne Dawn © Photo Healy Racing
Thomond O'Mara saddled his first track winner for a couple of years when Champagne Dawn (20/1) landed the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle under Philip Donovan.
Roisin Hickey's Shantou gelding, unplaced in three runs last year and running for the first time in nearly 11 months, came from mid-division to lead two out and kept on well to beat Huntsgrove by five lengths.
"He won easily, isn't a bad horse and I was hopeful," said O'Mara.
"We'll see what happens from here but he is a seven-year-old now so we might find a novice hurdle for him in Killarney. Hopefully he keeps going forward and everything will be fine.
"We just have him and a few more horses ticking away at the moment and don't have too many to run."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
