PADRAIG Roche could have a lovely prospect on his hands in Slip Of The Tongue who defied a lack of previous experience to shock the odds-on Tax For Max in the first division of the four-year-old maiden hurdle.

After taking second in a Grade 3 before finishing sixth in the Triumph, Tax For Max appeared to line up with compelling claims and for much of the race the free going favourite looked set to dominate.

However, from the fourth last the Mark Walsh-ridden and J.P. McManus-owned Slip Of The Tongue was catching the eye with the progress that he was making through the field.

The 33/1 chance then picked off the favourite between the last two flights to win by four and a half lengths and he looks a horse with a big future.

“I thought he was a nice horse but that inexperience could catch him out. My parents bred him and all the family have improved with time and hopefully he will as well. I’ll speak to Frank (Berry) and J.P. about where he will go,” stated Roche.

Although they were out of luck with Tax For Max, Willie and Danny Mullins did hit back in the second division of the four-year-old maiden hurdle with the Marie Donnelly-owned Dark Voyager.

Stand out

The gelding hadn’t run since December and had disappointed somewhat on his last two starts but his second to Zanahiyr on his hurdling debut was a standout piece of form and he was restored to that level. The 7/4 favourite cruised clear from the turn-in and eventually reached the line with 26 lengths to spare.

“He had good form behind Zanahiyr but just went off the boil a little bit. It was a nice performance and the bit of rain was no inconvenience,” commented Danny Mullins.

Griffin back with long odds success

BIG priced winners seem almost routine these days and the latest horse to defy big odds in Ireland was Present Road who sprang a 40/1 surprise to give trainer Michael Griffin his first winner in two years in the first division of the mares’ maiden hurdle.

This Seamus Neville-owned and bred five-year-old was making her first appearance since December when finishing a well-held sixth at Kilbeggan six days previously. It was all change here though as Present Road cruised through the race before knuckling down well under pressure to nail the favourite Robyndeglory on the line.

“She was very unlucky in her point-to-point when she’d have skated in but took her eye off the final fence and fell,” declared Griffin who intends to give his charge a break.

“She hated the bottomless ground at Limerick over Christmas and her run the last day put her right for today. Seamus owns her, does all the work with her and virtually sleeps with the mare, so all credit to him.”

The other divide of the mares’ maiden was a good deal more predictable as Lunar Display justified 1/2 favouritism for Joseph O’Brien and J.J. Slevin.

This Annus Mirabilis-owned five-year-old was placed at listed level at Navan in February and was improving on her second placing in a Killarney maiden last week. She had the measure of the front running Rebel Rose from the last and went on to score by four lengths.

O’Brien looked to have every chance of a double in the two-and-a-half-miles handicap hurdle as Isotope edged ahead of a closely grouped leading quintet after the second last.

Late lunge

Hard as he tried though he couldn’t contain the late lunge of the Kieran Purcell-trained Fest Deiz (7/1) who got home by a head under Donagh Meyler.

A mere €2,600 store purchase, the six-year-old was recording his third success from 11 career starts and he will now stay hurdling for the summer. J.J. Slevin, Ricky Doyle and Jack Gilligan, who filled the minor placings, received whip bans of two days, one day and one day respectively.