Cheeky Carberry wins on 'jolly' Bonny

Jockey Paul Carberry rolled back the years with a trademark cheeky win in the opening Paul Murphy & Euromedic Maiden Hurdle at Gowran today, making all on the Noel Meade trained 2/5 favourite Bonny Kate

Odds-on punters may have had some concerns jumping the final flight as Stowaway Splash briefly threatened but veteran rider Carberry appeared to have none, and merely kept the daughter of Beneficial in a straight line on the run-in, for a two lengths win.

Following the win Meade stated "it would be great if they were all that easy!

"We had thought about going for the mares' bumper at Punchestown but I felt she was too slow and the decision was made to go hurdling.

"She's a full-sister to Mala Beach and her real future is over fences. Three miles is what she wants and she'll go chasing next season.

"She jumped good, as she did the last day but we tried to make the running over two miles at Leopardstown."

There was a sad aftermath to the contest as runner-up Stowaway Splash, which broke down badly after passing the line, was subsequently put down.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee