Eighty-three lengths separated the first five finishers for today's opening 16-runner Fairyhouse Winter Festival (Mares) Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse, with victory going to wide-margin winner Harmonya Maker (7/4).

A 12-lengths bumper winner last December, Harmonya Maker today made all the running to win on her hurdles debut, scoring easily by 18 lengths, under jockey Jack Kennedy.

Runner-up Law Ella the 10/11 favourite, gave chase throughout but tired in the home straight, finishing 34 lengths ahead of third-placed Battling Bessie wiith further gaps of 17 and 14 lengths to the fourth and fifth-placed horses.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott later commented “she’s a nice mare and there is plenty of improvement in her. Jack said she will come on from it too.

“She has been schooling well at home and jumped great. She will jump a fence in time.

“She could go anywhere over two and a half miles on soft ground. It was a good performance.”

Quotes from Alan Magee