THIS industry fixture, which was only created last week, mightn’t have seemed the most obvious place for a piece of Irish racing history but the opening Bar One Racing-sponsored four-year-old maiden delivered just that as Conor O’Dwyer’s Sawbuck struck at a colossal 300/1.

The Dominic Jones-owned gelding’s starting price makes him the joint longest-priced winner in Irish racing history alongside He Knows No Fear who won a Leopardstown maiden for Luke Comer and Chris Hayes in August 2020.

Sawbuck, who was ridden by the trainer’s son Charlie, lined up having struggled to make an impact on his first six outings but it was all change on this occasion.

The Zoffany gelding jumped off in a forward position and held the lead for a period before being headed down the backstraight.

Sawbuck was back in front at the second last though and from this point he always seemed to be keeping his rivals at bay.

He could afford the luxury of an awkward jump at the last and still defeat the Leopardstown bumper winner Ballybawn Belter by four lengths.

Dramatic progression

This effort represented a dramatic progression on his unplaced showing off a mark of 53 in a Dundalk handicap early last month.

Prior to He Knows No Fear, Killahara Castle had the distinction of being the longest price winner in Ireland when scoring at 200/1 at Thurles in December 2017.

“He was in great form at home but, coming here, if he finished in the middle of them I’d have been delighted,” said the rider. “From the moment the flag dropped he travelled great and jumped well, apart from the last, and he’s won handily enough.”

The Bar One Racing-sponsored maiden hurdle for horses who hadn’t finished in the first five on either of their last two runs yielded a much more conservatively-priced winner in Frontline Worker who struck at 7/2 for Henry de Bromhead and Conor McNamara.

On her first outing since December, this Presenting filly was restored to the form that saw her reach the frame in a Down Royal bumper last summer.

After racing on the pace throughout, she got the better of Diamondinthemud after the last to prevail by three and a quarter lengths.

The winner, the jockey’s first for de Bromhead, carries the colours of the John Battersby Racing Syndicate.

Tyre Kicker hits the mark

A DRAMATIC step up in trip worked the oracle for Tyre Kicker (17/2) who bagged the Bar One Racing Bet In-Play Handicap Hurdle over three-miles.

On his handicap debut after four maiden hurdle outings at around two-miles, the Christy Reynolds-owned son of Network needed every yard of this trip as it was only in the last stride or two that Keith Donoghue got him up to nail Presenting Point.

“It was a lovely ride by Keith as I’d say they got racing early enough there. It was his first time on this ground and he looked flat out all the way so I’d say we might put him away now,” reported Gavin Cromwell.

Martin’s charge has the answers

THERE was an improving sort on show in the first division of the 80-95 rated Bar One Racing €50 Free Bet Handicap Hurdle over two-miles where Tony Martin’s Unanswered (3/1) translated his recent progress from the flat.

This race was confined to horses who hadn’t been placed on their last run over hurdles and the John Breslin-owned winner had finished well down the field on his most recent outing over timber.

However, he had won his last two outings on the flat and he suggested he could be about to get on a roll over timber as he took charge for Bryan Cooper nearing the last flight en route to an eight and a half lengths success over Muntahez.

“He’s a galloper and it took him time to get going, the same as the flat,” remarked Martin. “He does his best work in the last couple of furlongs and he just got caught a bit flat-footed when they quickened up down the back. He jumped very well and he’ll mix it between the flat and hurdles.”

The second division of that handicap yielded a 25/1 winner in Lucy Van Pelt who got back to form that carried her into the placings in a Down Royal bumper two years ago.

Jointly owned by trainer Peter Maher’s wife, Caroline, and Racing Post photographer Patrick McCann and his wife Kirsty, the half-sister to The Last Samurai made all the running for J.J. Slevin. She was headed by Thefaithfulindian approaching the last but rallied splendidly to carry the day by a length and a quarter.

Fun mare

“She was making a noise so I got her wind done. She’s a grand, fun mare at this level,” declared Maher. “We might go down the cross-country route with her but we’ll see what Patrick wants to do.”

J.J. Slevin completed a double when Bonne Debut gave South Wexford-based trainer Mark Scallan his first winner on the track in the second divide of the 80-95 rated Bar One-sponsored handicap hurdle over three-miles.

The David O’Byrne-owned daughter of Milan, who was actually a place in front of Lucy Van Pelt when fourth in a Clonmel handicap hurdle recently, was a well-supported 9/2 favourite and kept going well from two out to hold off Lady L’lerom by two and three quarter lengths.

“I’ve mainly point-to-pointers but I’ve three for the track for the summer and it’s great to get my first winner,” stated Scallan. “She’s a grand mare and will tip away for the summer and will hopefully pick up another one. She jumps and stays and chasing will be her game.”