Hughies Bay (left) leads Jennys Day over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Jennys Day got off the mark on his debut over flights, as he took the last at Listowel, the Follow listowelraces On Twitter Maiden Hurdle.
Seventh and second on his two point-to-point starts, the Mick Winters trained five-year-old was a good third to Westendorf in a bumper on his racecourse debut at Tipperary in May.
Having opened at 8/1 on-course today, the son of Daylami came in for some support, and went off an 11/2 chance in the colours of owner John Draddy.
Settled in mid-division by Brian Hayes, he was seventh with a circuit to race. He took closer order from the fourth last and was fifth entering the straight.
He was pushed along to challenge from two out, and was ridden to the front after the last, staying on well in the closing stages to score by four and a half lengths. Hughies Bay 20's this morning and returned 9's, finished second under Donagh Meyler for Danny Howard, while Knockraha Boss also 20's this morning and returned 10's, was another length back in third for Adrian Maguire and Paul Townend. Lord De Beaufai was sent off the 9/4 favourite (from 3's on-course) and he finished a disappointing sixth under Ruby Walsh for Tony Martin.
Winters said afterwards: "He's only back in six or seven weeks max and I was hoping he'd run well and hoping there would be a future in him but it was very hard to tell anybody to back him.
"He was a bit sticky in his jumping in his point-to-point's but he came in way better this time."
STEWARDS REPORT
B. Browne, rider of Rejected trained by Kevin McDonagh, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having never travelled during this race.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
