Dorans River and Ambrose McCurtin pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Dorans River ran out comfortable winner of the Purfield Memorial Handicap Hurdle, scoring under Ambrose McCurtin for Stephen Mahon.
A good fourth to Black Key on his last start at the Galway Festival, the son of Golan was sent off at 6/1 this evening.
Settled behind the leaders, he made good progress to lead approaching three out, and stretched clear before the last, going on to score by eight and a half lengths. The Gatechecker (11/1) finished second under Barry Geraghty for Michael Hourigan, while the 3/1 favourite Na Trachtalai Abu was another length back in third.
Mahon, who was also on the mark at Ballinrobe on Tuesday, said afterwards: "He's a not a bad little horse. Tom (owner Tom Doran) is stopping me going chasing with him but he'll probably go chasing sooner rather than later.
"He jumps really well and handles that ground. I'd say he'll handle any sort of ground but the softer the ground the more he'll have to come back in trip.
"Tom wanted to go for the two-and-a-half but I had Stormey in it and wanted to split them up. I thought I might have two winners.
"He'll get a few pounds for that. We'll see where we go now, Listowel is Tom's thing.
"I'm delighted for Tom because he sent me all the horses out of Gordon Elliott's which was a big ask.
"We have a couple of nice horse to come for Listowel. He's a great owner and great with me.
"He helps pick the races. Some trainer's don't agree with that but I think it's great because nothing gets by you. I love an owner telling me 'we'll go for that'.
"The horses just weren't firing the last month or two but thankfully we've had two winners this week and they are starting to turn a corner.
"There was nothing major wrong, they weren't scoping wrong or coughing, but when you let them out in the field they were walking out instead of galloping and rolling."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
