Lady Rita back to form under Blackmore

A first combination of a tongue-strap and cheekpieces saw Lady Rita double her career total in the Lee Strand Handicap Hurdle over an extended 2m6f at Killarney.

The complexion of the race changed after the third last when the leader Ceroc ducked out to leave a closing Lady Rita at the head of affairs.

Lady Rita was chased to the next by Andys Flame but this one's challenge petered out between the final two flights as Uhtred moved into a close second.

A good jump at the last by Lady Rita saw her land running and she held the pursuer by two and a quarter lengths at 5/1. Runner-up Uhtred was a 9/2 chance and he was seven lengths clear of third-home Andys Flame (6/1).

Trainer Louise Lyons' partner Nicky Teehan said: “We thought at the start of last season that we had a well-handicapped mare off 116, but ours were just wrong during the winter.

“She’s a Westerner and has no problem staying. That trip is ideal and she’d stay three (miles) as well.

“Maybe we might go to Galway. We stuck her in the Mervue on the Saturday which is also over 2m6f, but she had to win here today.

“It’s only a small chance that she might get in and then if we go there as it’s only a couple of weeks away. After that she would have a break.

“She handles good ground and she handles deep ground.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee