In-form Darragh O’Keeffe followed up a Thurles treble yesterday with another winner today, steering trainer Henry De Bromhead’s heavily-supported Taponthego to land Tipperary’s Visit Tipperary Maiden Hurdle.
Runner-up in both a point-to-point and recent maiden hurdle, the five year old faced 19 rivals and while morning fancies Gordon Elliott’s Jazz De Cotte and Willie Mullins’ Goritho were weak in the betting, Taponthego was supported from 4/1 this morning, before returning even-money favourite.
In the race Taponthego made all and in the home straight, comfortably held fellow well-backed McLaurey (28/1 - 11/4) by nine lengths.
The winner carries the colours of the Both Sides Of The Water Syndicate and afterwards De Bromhead’s assistant Robbie Power reported “I’m delighted with that and it is great for the lads who have been very patient with him and they are now getting rewarded: he had been declared a few times and went to the races, but he didn’t run because the ground was too quick.
“He had a lovely hurdling debut in Wexford when he was beaten by a very good horse and stepping up in trip really suited him today. He has come forward from it and is a nice horse to look forward to. Chasing will be his game but is entitled to do a bit more over hurdles this season.”
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