On The Steel and Charlie O'Dwyer © Photo Healy Racing
The second race at Ballinrobe produced a cracking finish with On The Steel lunging late to prevail in a three-way finish. Napper Tandy came to lead before the last in the two-mile-one maiden hurdle but was all out in the closing stages as 8/11 favourite Doctor Glide and the eventual winner came to press.
Charlie O'Dwyer just got On The Steel's head in front near the line to secure a half-length victory for his father Conor and owners Whitechurch Stud.
The 17/2 winner had run in a couple of strong bumpers, most recently when fourth to Cantico at Navan in February.
O'Dwyer junior said: "He's a lovely horse and had a couple of nice bumper runs. We knew he wanted a bit of better ground.
"He's still a baby, still learning on the job, and will be better over a little bit further, I think.
"We didn't go that hard and I was happy to sit a bit handier than I'd planned to be and to be pushing it along when I could. He jumped great and he's finished off great.
"The ground has dried out. There's no heavy in it at all and I'd nearly be calling it yielding to soft. It's definitely on the better side of soft anyway."
(Quotes by Mark Nunan)
