Fayonagh takes flight in Fairyhouse finale

Fayonagh put up an extraordinary performance to win the concluding Listed Coolmore EBF (Mares) INH Bumper at Fairyhouse today by 20 lengths, to complete a double on the day for her new trainer Gordon Elliott, who further enhanced his prospects of becoming Champion Trainer this season.

The winner is out of a half-sister to top racemare Solerina and today opened up a huge lead, under Jamie Codd, over a field which included six previous winners entering the home straight.

In the end Fayonagh routed her rivals to score a Solerina-esque 20 lengths win and following the race Elliott stated “she's a fair mare and she galloped them into the ground.

“She won a schooling bumper here by 20 lengths a couple of weeks ago and she jumps brilliant as well - she has her black type now. “

Elliott was earlier successful in the featured Grade 3 hurdle with Shattered Love and moves some E260,000 clear of Willie Mullins at the head of the Trainers’ Championship.

The daughter of Kalanisi had previously won a Naas bumper for Wexford trainer Richie Rath, whose academy also includes this season’s Grade 3 winner Rathnure Rebel. It was Codd, through his role with Tattersalls Ireland, who recommended the mare to new owners Mark and Maura Gittens who purchased Fayonagh for 64,000GBP in December.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee