Charlie Swan achieved another milestone in his burgeoning training career at a sparsely attended Tralee yesterday when he recorded his first winner on the flat courtesy of Hot Bunny in the Ballybeggan Racegoers Club Handicap.
Sent off a 10 to 1 chance and carrying the colours of Donald Swan, father of the nine-times champion, the Distinctly North filly responded gamely to a determined drive from Jamie Spencer to land the spoils by a length from Aine's Choice and Niall McCullagh.
Swan, who finished last season's National Hunt campaign with 21 winners, was otherwise busy attending the Goffs Sales but he did say by phone: "It's nice to get the first on the flat and it must have been the trip (1m 3f) which helped her today. She has been schooled over hurdles but we'll try and find another little handicap for her next."
McCullagh didn't come away empty-handed as he completed an opening race double initiated aboard Anna Elise, also a first flat winner for former amateur rider John Flynn, who trains a small string outside Dungarvan. He was back in the winners enclosure half an hour later after making all on Kevin McDonagh's Windy Project in the Denny Handicap, the sixth time he has partnered this colt to victory.
The Kirbys Steakhouse Handicap Hurdle produced the easiest winner of the day when Eamonn Sheehy's Adradee and Kieran Gaule spread-eagled the field, coming home a hard held 12 lengths clear of Proud Bishop.
