Lady Kate delights Hackett on better ground

Lady Kate fended off Fox Le Bel at the end of the extended 2m7f Tipperary Handicap Chase.

She closed right up on the leader Made In The Woods before four out and grabbed the initiative before the penultimate fence.

Long-standing maiden Fox Le Bel emerged as the danger between the final two obstacles. He stayed on along the run-in and made Liam Quinlan work aboard the winner who scored by half a length at 9/1. Nazine (11/2) placed third, some eight lengths off the runner-up.

Ray Hackett said: "She is a lovely, lovely, honest mare who ran well in Thurles but the ground was so deep at Limerick during Christmas, where she gave herself a small drag behind.

"It has worked out for the better now as I didn't race her through the soft ground and is fresh and well now.

"She will run everywhere during the summer and, once she has a trip, she is fine. She is ground-versatile and is honest.

"The owners are local, this is their second horse with me and is their first winner, so I'm delighted for them."

She scored in the colours of Eamon Stapleton.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes