Collins & Donoghue on the mark with Sweetie

Hello Sweetie sprang a 14/1 surprise in the opener at Cork, the Follow Us On Twitter Mares Maiden Hurdle, scoring under Keith Donoghue for owner/trainer Pat Collins.

Placed on six of her previous eleven starts, the daughter of Westerner was last seen finishing a well-beaten fifth at Downpatrick last month.

Fitted with a tongue strap for the first time today, she was settled in second, dropping to third after the fourth last flight.

She got a good run through on the inner entering the straight, and jumped three out in a share of the lead. She was ridden to the front after the next, and kept on well on the run-in, going on to score by a length and a quarter. Khalessi (7/1), who wasn't fluent two out, had to settle for second under Ambrose McCurtin for TJ Nagle, while Rosshaven Lady who was returned the even money favourite, was a further length and three parts back in third under Davy Russell for Joseph O'Brien.

Pat Collins said afterwards: "She was touched off in her first bumper at Ballinrobe and has had a few problems along the way but we're learning with her every time.

"I'll run her again while the ground is suitable and while she's no superstar, she has done her job now. I think she'll win again, she has schooled and will jump a fence no bother."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes