Limerick report: Yesterday's €40,000 Grade Three Ladbrokes.com Doran's Pride Novice Hurdle at Limerick Racecourse went to Willie Mullins' Our Ben, who ran out an impressive 25-length winner from Michael Hourigan's Kerryhead Windfarm.
The win was the second success of the day for 20-year-old jockey Davy Condon, who earlier partnered Paul Fahey's Knock Na Garm Lad in the Woodlands House Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
Regarding Our Ben, Mullins' assistant Tracey Gilmore said: "He'll be kept to two and a half miles with the Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham his main target. More long-term, he's a very exciting chase prospect."
Condon also confirmed the winner's potential, saying, "he's definitely good enough to win a Grade One hurdle".
On his own future in the saddle, he added: "My weight has increased and I'm now a full-time jump jockey, although I will probably ride at weights around nine stone seven on the flat next year." Favourite in the race - Guantama Bay at 7 to 4 - was found to be coughing post race as well as suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection.
The eight-member 'We Didn't Name Him Syndicate' - which includes Munster rugby player Rob Henderson - tasted success with Strangely Brown in the opening Supermacs Dooradoyle Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle.
Trainer Eric McNamara has a high opinion of the winner, who won three flat races for Stuart Williams in England. "I bought him for £12,000 at Newmarket sales recently," McNamara said. "He jumps fabulously well and appears to have a bright future."
Former jockey Gerry O'Neill trained Old Pike Girl to win the mares' beginners' chase. The ever reliable John Thomas McNamara guided the horse to an 11-length success over O'Neill's former inmate Tobeornotobe.
