Little Mixup races away from Pakens Rock© Photo Healy Racing
It was all change in the closing stages of the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle at Thurles as Pakens Rock emptied and Little Mixup swept by him.
Robbie Geoghegan kicked Pakens Rock on entering the straight and the pair moved clear in jumping the penultimate flight. The were soon further clear, however, the petrol gauge began to flicker on the 11-year-old gelding who tied up approaching the last.
Little Mixup was the one horse not beaten and mustered his challenge racing to the last. He raced by the weakening leader on the run-in and came in by a growing four and three-quarter lengths at 12/1 from the 15/2 runner-up. Zoffanien was another two lengths back in third at 18/1.
Denis Hogan said: "I thought the handicapper had this lad and I asked him to drop the horse a pound to get him into a 0-116, but it looks like he was right. The race cut up though - the favourite tipped up and it probably wasn't the strongest race.
"He is game, Mark (McDonagh) gave him a lovely ride and thanks to the McDonaghs who support me well and Lorraine (Mark McDonagh's mother) looks after the horses when they return home on breaks."
He added "I have to thank all the owners who all stood by me (during the suspension) as it was a tough end to the year. It was messy and I advised owners to send horses here and there, and thankfully I got them back.Â
"My horses have been running ok, but I have been running a lot of ordinary ones too so we're thinning them out now.
"We are very busy, I have a lot of youngsters of my own which I hope to sell and have 15 point-to-pointers. I have a bunch of yearlings too, so hopefully we'll drive on now."
This was Hogan's first winner over jumps since returning from suspension.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
