Fascinating Spirit relishes the fast ground to win for Eoin McCarthy

The Mallow Handicap (Div II) was won by the always prominent Fascinating Spirit (11/1), providing her rider Joe Doyle with his 14th winner of the season.

The Fastnet Rock mare kept on well from over a furlong out to win by two lengths from the 5/2 favourite Scherzando who had got in as a reserve, with Drombeg Duke (10/3) another length and a quarter away in third.

Bred by Newtown Anner Stud, the winner is a half-sister to a couple of winners and was picked up for just E3,000 last year by owner Shane Pegley.

She’d run well a couple of times this season when third at Killarney in July and second over this course and distance last month.

She’s trained in Athea, Co. Limerick by Eoin McCarthy who said: "Everything suited today; she wants quick ground and the straight seven (furlongs). She was just touched off here over the same course and distance recently.

"She is well bred, has a great pedigree and ground depending she will go to Listowel; she wants nice ground."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes