Paula's Prayer answered in mares handicap

There was drama at the final flight in the mares handicap hurdle at Sligo as Paula's Prayer was presented with the race.

Front-runner Lunastar had been joined by that rival going to the last but crashed out when upsides.

Thankfully both the horse and rider, Eoin Kelly, were quickly back on their feet.

Paula's Prayer was left with a healthy lead and kept on well under Ricky Doyle to record a three-and-three-quarter length success over Lady Rocco

The 16/5 winner wasn't scoring out of turn having been runner-up on her previous two outings.

Her trainer Conor O'Dwyer was leading up and Doyle afterwards:- ““I think I’d have won anyway.

“I was just creeping to her (the leader) and I just wanted a lead down over the last. Hopefully horse and rider are okay.

"I thought she’d nearly do it today stepping back down in grade. She did it well and she’d win another, I think.

“Conor’s horses are flying and they’re all paying their way at the moment.

“This mare was bred by a priest from County Sligo who passed away a while back, so maybe he was looking down on her today!”

(Quotes by Mark Nunan)