Ears relishes the mud

Ondeafears appreciated the rain-softened ground at Cork to record a 16/1 surprise in the opening Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap under Marc Monaghan. Kateeva (7/1) made a bold bid from the front in this six furlongs dash, and appeared to have her 14 rivals well stretched approaching the furlong pole.

However the Mick Halford-trained Ondeafears came home strongly on the far side, grabbing the lead about 50 yards out to score by three quarters of a length. Bubbly Bellini (12/1) was another two and a quarter lengths adrift in third.

Halford said, “She loved the ease in the ground, and dropping back in trip seemed to suit on that ground. We only had her for a few runs and are still learing about her.

"She's very genuine, and I'm delighted for her owner/breeder Carol Roper who has been very patient.”

The original ground description of yielding (yielding to soft in places) was changed to soft after this race due to persistent rain.

Alan Magee