Ireland suits Ballyquin Queen

A change of scenery appears to have done the trick for Ballyquin Queen who stayed on stoutly under David Splaine to deprive All The Way Home at Tramore and win for trainer James Motherway.

This was the six-year-old mare’s first outing on a Irish racecourse having been trained in England by Philip Hobbs. Her form had been uninspiring apart from a third place in Newbury in November 2011.

The odds reflected her form as she was sent off 14/1, however, she responded well to Splaine’s urgings and saw out overy bit of the two mile five trip to score by three parts of a length. All The Way Home in second at 11/2 from 11/1 beat War (12/1) in third.

Claire Gleeson owns the mare and her husband Brian Gleeson from RTE said: “That was a great surprise. I didn’t think she would go on the ground.

“I was hoping she would be placed because we were going to cover her in February as she has a good old-fashioned National Hunt pedigree.

“It wasn’t a great race. She’ll go for another handicap. It is Claire’s second winner. Her first came at the Curragh.”

Volkis O’Blue was heavily backed when opening opening earlier at 9/2, then 10/3 at the track right down to 5/2 on the off, but he fell at the fifth.

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)