Divaboriva lands gamble on debut

From 50/1 in early shows yesterday evening, Divaboriva landed a gamble on debut in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.

Returned at just 16/5, the Jonathan Sweeney-trained grey was settled behind the leaders on the outer by Adam Ryan, taking closer order with four-furlongs left to race.

Pushed along between horses on the approach to the straight, the Kingston Hill five-year-old found plenty for pressure inside the final furlong and ultimately outstayed Amanha with two-and-a-half lengths between them at the line.

The runner-up was returned the 7/4 favourite under Finian Maguire for Dermot McLoughlin, while Tillaway (20/1) was another two-and-three-quarters of a length back in third.

"She was doing everything well and improved immensely in the last three weeks," Sweeney, who trains the winner for owner/breeder John Hosford, commented.

"She is still very backward, she was first to come off the bridle there but keeps finding and finding. She stays and is quick and she is a nice mare going forward.

"She was well-backed but I don't back them at all. We quietly fancied her on her work but they still have to come and do it.

"I actually won a point-to-point with her half-sister Rivabodiva. She won first time out at Lisronagh and Larry Murphy rode her. She was a smart mare but wasn't the size of this one."