Buena is Good in Ballinrobe opener

After finishing a good second at Listowel on her last start, Chica Buena (Good Girl when translated from Spanish) went one place better in the opener at Ballinrobe this afternoon, the Jimmy Beef 3yo Maiden Hurdle.

Sent off at 50/1 on her last start, the Brendan Duke trained and owned bay went off at just 6s this afternoon, having opened on-course at 7/1.

Toward the head of affairs throughout under Denis O'Regan, the daughter of Thewayyouare held a definite advantage from the second last.

She extended that lead after the final flight, going on to score comfortably by six lengths. Lever Du Soleil (11/2 to 7/2 on-course) finished second under Andrew Lynch for Gavin Cromwell, while hurdling debutant Monkeylou (7/1) was another six and a half lengths back in third. Flat To The Max was sent off the 11/10 favourite under Jack Kennedy, and unseated after making a mistake at the first.

"She's improving all the time and she loves what she's doing," said Duke.

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"She was always going to be lucky. She wasn't sold through the ring - I saw her and I said I'd have her.​

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"He (the seller) searched Tattersalls for me to give me a bit of luck out of her.​

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"She was always going to be lucky and she's jumping hurdles now since March.​

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"She loves this racing game and she's improving - she definitely is.​

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"We'll run away through the winter and hopefully she'll be able to win again.​

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"She's the sixth foal of the mare to win - six runners six winners. Not bad - five grand I bought her for.​

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"I'm absolutely over the moon and it's great.​

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"She'll stay rated 49 on the level for the minute as she's really enjoying this and I'm a great believer if they are enjoying doing something in sticking with it.​

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"There's no need to change at the moment.​

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"She has a little bit of class about her and loves the ground.​

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"There's no real plan - you're always thinking faraway fields in the spring or Punchestown the same time.​

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"You're always hoping but quite honestly I didn't think early on that she was that good. She's improving so much though and enjoying herself so much that we'll dream a bit more through the winter anyway."

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy