Herself hits the net on chase debut

Is Herself About got her chasing debut off to the perfect start when taking the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club Only 85 Euro Beginners Chase in convincing fashion.

The six-year-old mare, successful twice previously over hurdles at Thurles, jumped well and took over from the front-running Dougal Philps down the back straight.

Backed on track from 4/1 into 3/1, John Cullen’s mount was comfortably maintaining a two length advantage over 5/4 favourite Goal when that rival fell at the last.

This left David O’Brien’s charge to come home 11 lengths clear of Treat Yourself with Dactik well behind in third.

The field was reduced to just six runners after Namarama (sore shins) and Stop The Clock (lame) were taken out.

O’Brien said, “She did it nicely and small fields are a big help as she settled well enough today. The lad who looks after her and rides her out, Michael Kelly, did a great job in the last three weeks to get her settled. We’ll see what the handicapper does with her now.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes