"I was meant to ride her in this race last year, but I fell in a race before it and broke two ribs so I couldn't," explained Conor Brassil after Courtin Bb followed up her success from here last year in the DFL Fitouts & Joinery Ltd. Handicap Hurdle at Tramore.

Backed from 10/1 into 7/1 on-course, Courtin Bb represents local Villierstown handler Pat Duffy and he also owns and bred the eight-year-old daughter of Brian Boru.

She stepped up on recent efforts to see off Coole Craft by four lengths.

"It was the first time she got that ground this year. All year she was running on the wrong ground, heavy ground," disclosed Duffy.

"She ran stink last Sunday week at Limerick. They watered it and it rained. We were hoping for the best today."

Coincidentally enough Courtin Bb was 7/1 when she won here twelve months ago too.

A.E. Lynch, rider of Mangan Julia trained by G. Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a noise and was pulled up thereafter.

(DM & EM)