Le Richebourg (right) beats Twobeelulcky© Photo Healy Racing
Le Richebourg was sent off a short price to make it three from three over jumps in the opening contest at Galway this evening and stamped his class on proceedings in the Galwaybayhotel.com & Radissonhotelgalway.com Novice Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty, having his first ride back since Easter, tracked front-runner Twobeelucky in the two-miler before moving up to challenge before the second last.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding got things wrong at the penultimate flight handing the advantage back to the Twobeelucky but picked him up again going to the last.
The 4/9 hotpot quickened to lead on the run-in and was pulling away at the line to record a five-length victory.
Le Richebourg was maintaining a perfect record over jumps having scored twice at Killarney.
“He's a grand horse and Barry gave him a lovely ride,” said O'Brien.
“They went very slow and then winged down over the last two. It was very tactical but he's a nice horse.
“He's a national hunt bred horse and he's running against horses off the Flat so that would be playing into their hands. He's exciting.
“He missed the second last and it's hard to gain momentum up the hill here and he seemed to do it fairly sharpish.
“We might look at the race at Tipperary in October. He's had three runs over hurdles now. We'll speak with Frank and JP and see what the plan is.”
Geraghty added:- "Andrew (Lynch) rode a clever race in front and I was conscious to be on his heels coming down the hill. I fluffed the second last and we quickened well from there.
"He has plenty to learn but he feels like a nice type and if he keeps improving he could be very nice."
