Fahy wins with another mare

After a lovely success with the promising mare, Shimmer's Rock at Gowran on Saturday, Pat Fahy struck with another of the fairer sex when The Green Lady proved too good for her opponents in the Festival Any Day Flexi Ticket Mares Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

Danny Mullins donned the familiar silks of George Moore on the daughter of Westerner, and well-supported favourite Freeway Space couldn't live with the winner from before the final flight.

The Green Lady was on top by eight lengths at the line.

"She was so free a few times and then gave herself a fair old gash when running poorly at Fairyhouse. She ran well at Limerick and we were getting her ready for Thyestes day at Gowran when she came out in spots and got everything under the sun. We had to wait for that to heal up, and she only came right about ten days," explained Fahy.

"There could be a little bit more improvement because there was only so much you could do with her. She handles that ground.

"She is in a mares' handicap on Saturday at Fairyhouse. You hate doing it (running back quickly) but if she comes out of this well we will have to give it some thought.

"It's nice that a lot of our fillies are winning and getting their mares bonus. It's a great thing and keeps the show on the road for a lad like me."

The Stewards fined Shane Crawley, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Key Challenge in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91.

The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.

(AM & EM)