Dame Rapide exploits favourable hurdles mark under King

The James Barrett trained Dame Rapide capitalised on what had long looked a rather favourable mark over flights when staying on strongly to win the Powerscreen New England Supporting Louth GAA Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

A three-time winner on the Flat, the seven-year-old mare had been rated as high as 97 in that sphere. Off a hurdles mark of 109, it looked just a matter of time before everything fell into place for the Barrett mare.

Winner of her maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe last September, the daughter of Footstepsinthesand had hinted that her turn was near when reaching the frame on three of her last four starts.

Making stylish headway to head leader Slieve Bearnagh entering the straight, Dame Rapide went clear before two out, keeping on well to hold the late run of Wajaaha by one-and-a-half lengths.

James Barrett said: “The ground was key to her today. She's been running well all year and she deserved that.

“She's a lovely honest mare and I think she's improving as she's getting older. Hopefully there is more to come from her and she'll jump a fence too in time.

“I might even look to England with her next, it depends on the ground here. Yielding ground is probably as slow as she'd want it.

“She did that well and hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on me.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.