The 2/5 favourite Shadow Eile was made to work hard by Spring Hawk but she pulled out more on the run-in to take the opener at Bellewstown this evening the McCabes Garage Drogheda Mares Hurdle.

Trained by Dot Love, the 7yo daughter of Beneficial was last seen winning a mares handicap hurdle on the Sunday of the Galway Festival in convincing fashion.

She of course had also won a conditions race on the level on the Friday of the Galway Festival.

Ridden by Andrew McNamara she was pushed along in second approaching the second last as the Tom McCourt trained Spring Hawk (8/1) held the lead under Tim Carroll.

The winner got on terms with Spring Hawk from before the last and soon led before staying on best to score by a length.

The front pair went fifteen lengths clear of the third horse who was Some Fiddle for Gordon Elliott and Davy Condon at 5/1.

Winning rider Andrew McNamara said afterwards: "The ground is dead enough. You’d probably call it soft.

"She got in a bit close to the horses in front of her going down the back (referring to the mistake she made four out) but she jumped the last two super.

"I dropped my gum shields after crossing the line, that's why I got down off her."

Winning trainer Dot Love said afterwards: “She had to work a bit hard today. It was easier for her in Galway.

"The ground was a little holding for her but she is so honest and so good. I think she might prefer the Easyfix hurdles.

"She could go for a flat race at the Curragh now but we will see how she comes out of this. She is a great one to have in the yard.”

(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)