Toto Too (left, Keith Donoghue) upstages Hashtag Pretender (Michael O'Sullivan)© Photo Healy Racing
Toto Too has hardly put a hoof wrong in his career to date and he made it two wins from three outings in the Bar One Racing Guaranteed Multiples All Shops Maiden Hurdle.
Second in a winners bumper at the Galway Festival on debut, the Ocovango gelding since triumphed at Killarney, and made a pretty seamless transition to jumping here as the winter game returned to Navan.
The 11/10 favourite over-whelmed Hashtag Pretender from before the final hurdle to triumph by six lengths in the hands of a confident Keith Donoghue.
The well-backed But What (10/1 into 9/2) finished a length and a quarter back in third. Ivana (10/3 out to 11/2) was pulled up by Paul Townend, not long after a mistake down the back.
Winning trainer Peter Fahey said: "He's a lovely horse to be honest with you. He schooled well at home and I was probably keen to get him out on a bit nicer ground.
"I thought he always wanted a bit nicer ground and Keith was saying he has loads of boot. Keith was saying he thought he would go on easier ground too, so he is a nice horse to look forward to going on to the winter.
"He has a bit of age on his side and we'll stay going until he tells us to stop. I think he could develop into a nice novice hurdler for Basil (Holian, owner).
"He works like that at home, he works like a horse that has loads of pace and that is what he has shown in his races. He's always nearly the last one off it (bridle).
"Even the horse of Andy Slattery's that was second to us in Killarney (Royal Hollow), I'd say that is not a slow horse.
"I'd say he will mix it with the best of them away during the winter, hopefully."
The Raceday Stewards interviewed A.J.Martin trainer, concerning the behaviour of his charge Keeptheoldmanout who unseated the rider at the start and again after the race was started. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned, who stated that Keeptheoldmanout was a very nervous animal and that he was making every effort to address the situation and concluded by fully accepting that the behaviour of his charge was unacceptable. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards suspended Keeptheoldmanout for 30days in accordance with the provisions of Rule 14(iii).
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Ivana (FR), trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be stiff post race.
P. Townend, rider of Ivana (FR), trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount made a bad mistake and was pulled up thereafter.
(MG & EM)
