Kings Dolly gets crucial track success

Kings Dolly (11/2) stayed on stoutly for a decisive victory in the mares' maiden hurdle at Tramore.

She was one of four horses who drew clear and had the race to themselves approaching the second last.

You couldn't have called her the winner at that stage though, as she was under pressure in fourth behind Field Robin Chestnut Brave and Miss Sassie in third.

She was switched to the outer by Davy Russell and closed jumping the second last.

From there she made good headway to take over before the last. She then put 20/1 shot Chestnut Brave away by four and three quarter lengths.

Miss Sassie (11/1) was a further three lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Roger McGrath said: "She is a consistent mare and has been holding her form the whole time. She enjoys the good ground and comes from a good pedigree. Her grand dam Private Dancer was a very useful mare for John Kiely a number of years ago.

"It's great that she has got her win on the track for breeding now. We'll keep her on the go with the good ground. She might go for a mares chase soon enough but she'll probably go for another hurdle first. We'll see what the handicapper thinks. She ran over hurdles at Gowran last year and then went back point-to-pointing. Davy gave her a great ride."

Russell was given a one-day ban by the stewards in relation to his use of the whip in the latter stages of the race.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy