Chicago Times defied top weight in winning the opening Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Cork today, scoring for trainer Matty Tynan and jockey Sean O'Keeffe.

The son of Shirocco was beaten a nose at Ballinrobe in August and a short-head at Listowel in September and today looked booked for another second-placing, having been passed by Mahlers Dollar approaching the final flight.

However Chicago Times responded well on the run-in, overhauling Mahlers Dollar and scoring by a length and a half, to provide trainer Tynan with a first winner since 2016.

The Co. Tipperary-based trainer later reported “it was a long time coming and was great for the yard to get a winner. I'm delighted for Kate, from Killenaule, and the Hassett family as he (Chicago Times) has been so close twice in a row.

“The horse is trained from a paddock and has been on the go for 15 months and it keeps him fresh. The plan is to give him a rest now and go for the Series Final at Punchestown.”

Tynan, who trains “four, five or six horses depending on how they are going”, added “Coto won four races for us and (flat 98-rated) Maontri won six but we ran out of horses for a while and we are breeding from those mares now.”