Latta mare shows Cork maiden rivals The Way home

The Yvonne Latta trained Thisistheway improved on her recent debut over flights to run out a comfortable winner of the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle at Cork.

A winner on her racecourse debut in a Wexford bumper last August, the Doyen mare subsequently ran well when a very respectable sixth in a Grade 3 bumper at Punchestown.

Although only a staying on fifth of 11 on her recent jumping debut at Listowel, the five-year-old was entitled to improve both for that initial experience and step up in trip.

Tracking leader Keep Kool Coko throughout, Thisistheway led before two out, keeping on strongly to beat that aforementioned gelding by half-a-length.

Andrew Lattat, trainers son, said: "Listowel had been the plan as we were hoping to run her on safe ground but she had a bad prep and needed a run there, to come here for today's race which suited better as it was over 2m4f. That run left her spot on for today."

"She isn't good enough for graded hurdles but we'll look for rated novices or handicaps and work back from the Series Final (at the Punchestown fesival),"

He added: "We initially sent her to the sales with these auction races in mind and nobody really took an interest as she was a box-walker so we bought her back (for €2,000).

"She has now won two bonuses, the first was worth €7,550 for her bumper win, another €5,000 today along with a €10,000 sales bonus voucher, while she has also won €21,100 in prizemoney. This is a great series for the lesser horses."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.