Unplaced in six outings over hurdles having finished second in his sole point-to-point start for Pat Crowley, Ballybrack Wood (3/1 fav) made a winning start over racecourse fences in the Waterford Greenway Beginners Chase.
Always close to the pace under Darragh O'Keeffe, the Soldier Of Fortune gelding disputed the lead with easy-to-back Jouster jumping two out before being narrowly headed by that rival. The quicker of the pair over the last, Ballybrack Wood found more on the run-in to get the better of Jouster by a length-and-a-quarter.
Henry de Bromhead, successful with his only runner of the day at his local track, explained: "The syndicate (Tash Four Arc Racing Syndicate) are from all over really, a lot of Waterford, Dunmore East and Dublin. It's all friends and family of the late Tash Mulligan. The syndicate is in memory of Tash and I'm delighted for them and her husband Kieran.
"It's taken us a while to win with him but we've got there now. We've started at a low level and obviously he has enjoyed fences. Hopefully he can keep progressing."
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