Maxwell does Let Her Flow and Smith's mare stays in front

Let Her Flow (9/2) took the second split of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under an attacking ride from Dillon Maxwell.

The winning rider kicked the daughter of Scorpion into a clear lead from the top of the hill with three to jump and, although Presenting Cody (28/1) gave chase and closed the deficit from before the last, Let Her Flow had done enough to score by two and a quarter lengths.

Owner Michael Moran’s homebred had made a good start for new trainer Matthew Smith when second at Punchestown at the end of May and was getting off the mark on her tenth start over hurdles.

The winning rider remarked: "That actually wasn't the plan (slipping the field and holding on), the plan was to jump off and kind of make it but if they were going too fast of a gallop maybe sit back in second in on the paint. It did work out to her advantage in the end.

"I did go a bit too early for a finish, we were nearly half a mile out when I asked her and she started weaving left to right but once I took out the stick she kept going. I kept squeezing her and grabbing her up and she kept going and finding more.

"She had a good run the last day and Matthew (Smith) is doing everything right with them. He kept her good and fresh for today and she was working well at home. She did the job and did it well."

Quotes from Michael Graham