Winning rider Katie Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
The Tony Mullins trained First To Boogie overcame a layoff of 857 days to take the bumper at Bellewstown this evening, the Woods Financial Lady Riders INH Flat Race.
The six-year-old son of Tobougg looked set to win on his debut in a point-to-point at Liscarroll in March of 2012 but he fell at the last there.
He then finished a decent sixth in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper the following month, his only other start.
Having opened at 7/2 on-course this evening he was backed into 2/1 joint-favouritism at the off.
Settled in mid-division he improved into a closer fourth three furlongs out.
He was switched to the inner and ridden a furlong and a half from home, hitting the front at the furlong pole before staying on well from there to score by a length and three parts. Thomas Ledger (5/2) finished second under Jane Mangan for Harry Rogers while Rathmuck Native who was the other joint-favourite, was a short head back in third under Kate Harrington for Peter Fahey.
Winning owner Barry Connell said afterwards: “He had some rehab program. He was a good point-to-pointer and we thought he'd win the Land Rover bumper but he had a little problem and between one thing and another it took two years to get him back.
"He was tough there and we’ll see where we go now. We may look for a winners bumper or he could go jumping.
"Katie said he gave a couple of blows and he should improve."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
