Aunty Bridy wins a dramatic opener

Aunty Bridy (6/1) took the opening 2-y-o fillies’ maiden for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning.

In a dramatic finish, the 4/7 favourite Snowfall who had been caught in a pocket behind the leaders from before halfway, lost all chance when clipping the eventual winner’s heel over a furlong out and stumbling quite badly. Lucky to stand up, she was eased thereafter by Seamie Heffernan.

The winner, a daughter of Camacho, had been handy on the rail from the start and she kept on to just hold the challenge of fellow newcomer Sister Rosetta who’d come from last, by a short head.

It was a fourth winner of the season, and a second in the juvenile division, for Jim Bolger.

Despite the yielding ground, the winning time was pretty good with a very strong tailwind behind the runners up the straight course.

Trainer Jim Bolger’s daughter Una Manning said: “We trained for the owner (David Granville) many years ago and Christy (Roche) rode a winner for him. Jim is delighted to have this filly for him.

“The plan is to upgrade her so hopefully she can step up into Listed company.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee