Road To Home, at odds of 11/1, redeemed earlier setbacks by clinching victory in the Bryan MacMahon (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race on his debut under Rules, with jockey Alan O'Sullivan celebrating his birthday with a winning ride for his father Eugene.
The Gamut-bred gelding, previously unable to finish in two spring point-to-point outings, displayed a remarkable turnaround. Under O'Sullivan's guidance, he positioned himself well throughout the race before asserting his dominance on the final turn, ultimately crossing the finish line ahead of the odds-on favourite Mazyad by a convincing two and three-quarter lengths.
Eugene O'Sullivan, the winning trainer, expressed his satisfaction with Road To Home's performance, stating, "He's a promising horse who had an unfortunate fall in Kildorrery on his first outing. Owned by Alfie and Anne Lawless from Galway, he was originally intended for point-to-pointing and resale. However, now, we're uncertain of his future path."
Commenting on the ground conditions, O'Sullivan noted, "Alan mentioned that the ground suited Road To Home perfectly, but I'm inclined to aim for a winners' bumper next. We hold a high regard for this horse, and while he may eventually change hands, I'd prefer to retain him."
Celebrating both the victory and Alan O'Sullivan's milestone, Eugene O'Sullivan remarked, "This win is particularly special for Alan, who turns 21 today. He recently secured the Western Championship title in point-to-pointing, sharing the honour with Derek O'Connor."