Flanagan back on track with Railway win

Sean Flanagan gained his first winner in Ireland since March when steering Railway Zira to make all in the David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Mares Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown today, for trainer Harry Kelly.

Flanagan, who partnered 13 winners during an 18 weeks in America earlier this year, kept Railway Zira going in the closing stages to hold the late challenge of Dantes Firth by half a length.

A Stewards' Enquiry was subsequently called into minor interference between the pair from the last but the result was left unaltered.

Afterwards Kelly stated “she's very tough but Sean said she was leaning a bit to her left.

“We've always liked her although she is not the most straightforward to keep right; she had a slight issue with her wind after Listowel which we got sorted and while we were planning to go to Fairyhouse over two and a half miles, she came right so we decided to come here instead.

“We'll see how things go but she is the sort of mare who learns as she goes along.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee.