The Eddie Hales trained Catcherinscratcher gained valuable black-type in the concluding Listed ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Mares bumper at Navan today, providing her amateur rider Kevin Power with his first winner of the season.

The daughter of Catcher In The Rye was involved with a battle with eventual runner-up Cnoc Seoda in the straight but Catcherinscratcher eventually edged clear inside the final furlong, for a five and a half lengths win.

Afterwards Hales, always reliable for a one-liner, joked "the result was never in doubt really!"

He added "I trained Catcherinscratcher's dam, Maiden Over, and Cue Card's dam, Wicked Crack, and both used to work together.

"Infact at one point, they were so slow if you started them at the bottom of the Old Vic gallop at The Curragh, you'd have needed a thermos bottle to keep you warm waiting for them to finish!"

The win was Power's first winner (on his sixth ride back) since returning from a break from riding, having recently concentrated on pursuing a career in Law.

Thomas Weekes