Lady Rita opens account in style for Lyons & Condon

The Louise Lyons-trained Lady Rita gained compensation for an unlucky unseat at Punchestown last week to take the Gibney’s Maiden Hurdle at Navan.

The six-year-old mare was badly hampered when unseating Richie Condon three out last time but made no mistake here relishing this step up to 2m6f.

The 6/4 favourite travelled smoothly to lead between the final two flights and threw a fine leap at the last which nearest rival Pat’s Pick flattened.

Lady Rita stretched right away on the run-in for an easy nine lengths verdict over the always prominent Pat’s Pick, with Goals Tiep a further length and a quarter away in third.

Condon said, "She won like a good mare. I was happy the whole way around, she travelled beautifully in behind, and up the straight it was just a matter of not getting there too soon.

“I was very disappointed when I got brought down the last day but obviously today makes up for it.

“Obviously it was only ten days ago so for her to come back from that was great.

“I think she'll have no bother getting black-type, she's a nice mare. Louise always liked her at home and that was the performance that we expected really.”

(GC & AM)