Papa's Way and Chris Hayes © Photo Healy Racing
Papa's Way returned in great heart as he produced a tough front-running performance to land the ten furlong handicap at Cork this afternoon.
Paul Deegan 's charge had been recorded back to back successes at Dundalk in January 2014 but ended last year with a couple of tame efforts.
There was some support for him today, however, as he was backed from 12/1 this morning and sent off a 8/1 shot.
Chris Hayes gave him a positive ride and the Rakti gelding knuckled down well in the closing stages to record a two-and-three-quarter length success over Lady Giselle 7/4 favourite Pyromaniac was a head back in third.
"He has improved and this is the first winter that he has done really well and put on a significant amount of condition," said Deegan of the winner.
"He has sharpened up and while the ground was a complete unknown for him, he seemed to handle it quite well and now has lots of options.
"We schooled him over hurdles already and he's a natural jumper but half of his owners want to go hurdling and the other half don't! I'll leave it between them to decide but it's a great win for them as Rosha Lyttle (breeder and owner) is from the North and had a baby boy a short time ago."
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
