Ally too good for Downpatrick rivals

Ally Cay proved much too good for her nine rivals in the opener at Downpatrick, the Congratulating Downpatrick's Daniel McMenamin Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Third on her debut over flights at Killarney last September, the John McConnell trained five-year-old has been campaigned on the level since and was well-beaten in the race won by Greenpanda at Sligo on Wednesday.

Back over hurdles this afternoon, the daughter of Alhebayeb was sent off a 13/2 chance and she raced mainly in second under Simon Torrens.

She improved to lead from the second last and quickly went clear on the run-in, coming home eight-and-a-half lengths to the good.

Molly's Glory, who was sent off the even money favourite, couldn't match the winner from before the last and she had to settle for second under Mark Walsh for Michael Grassick. April's Moon (15/8) was another four lengths back in third. The Jam Girl and All About Maddy fell independently at the first with both horses and riders emerging unharmed.

McConnell, who was recording his third winners so far this month, said: "The hurdles are there to be jumped and she seemed to jump well enough. We couldn't believe how good she was the other day after she ran in Sligo.

"She had been great on the flat but she has been a little bit disappointing this year, I've changed her routine a little bit and I train her outside now. She is probably only getting fit now by the look of it. She was big in Sligo I thought.

"She travels a lot better in a hurdle race so we might stick to hurdles for now and I actually think she will jump a fence as well. There's probably more fun to be had with her."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham