Kitty Galore lands gamble in Sligo opener

Gambled Kitty Galore made all to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Beginners Chase at Sligo today, scoring for owner/trainer John Ryan and jockey Sean O'Keeffe.

The daughter of Aizavoski's only previous win, last October, was under O'Keeffe and today won on chase debut, beating runner-up She Tops The Lot by a length and a half. The Sliding Rock the 8/13 favourite, was trainer Gordon Elliott's first national hunt runner since returning from suspension, but blundered badly at the third last and finished 14L further behind in third.

Ryan had his facts and figures in order when later reporting “we always knew she was going to be better over fences - that’s why she went from 18/1 to 7/2!”

“She’s related to Denman and we were trying to win a bit more over hurdles but she’s a lovely mare going forward.

“In those two mile chases around the likes of Thurles and Clonmel, she’ll take a bit of whacking.”

Willie Mullins' non-runner Manitopark, reported to be 'in season', was a morning withdrawal but dented Kitty Galore's winning bets by just 20%.

Quotes from Mark Nunan