Mary Fields provides Hennessy with first track success

Niall Hennessy registered his first track success, as his Mary Fields sprang a surprise in the FormaHoof Handicap Chase.

A winner of a point-to-point back in 2017, the nine-year-old daughter of Scorpion, ran well in defeat on couple of occasions since and was a close-up fifth over the course and distance last month.

She since disappointed at Kilbeggan and was sent off a 16/1 chance this evening under Mikey Hamill.

Settled in mid-division, the bay victor took closer order in fourth from three out and was ridden to challenge before the next.

Soon in a share of the lead, she gained the upper hand from the last, keeping on best from there to prevail by half a length. Cluan Dara (11/1) ran on well to take second under Tommy Brett for John Ryan, while the front-running Cantkidakidder (8/1) was just a neck back in third for Noel Dooly. Friary Gold who was sent off the 5/2 favourite, proved very disappointing and he pulled up before the last.

Hennessy said: "I train in Cappoquin and that's my first winner on the track, but I've had a few point-to-point winners before. I got into racing through hunting, I used to hunt and one thing just led to another.

"We fancied her big time today when the ground came quick. She has been waiting all year for quick ground and we just couldn't get it, everywhere we went it just kept coming up yielding.

"I only have two horses in and they are both my own. The other fella, Call His Bluff, runs on Monday in Tipperary. He was third the last time he ran so he should go close."