No trouble for Aintree heroine Katie Mai on 2nd hurdles start

Aintree mares bumper heroine Getaway Katie Mai delivered at the second time of asking over flights, justifying her odds on status in the Early Bird New Year’s Day Tickets Mares Maiden Hurdle at Tramore.

The 4/9 chance got the better of Roney (7s out to 10s) from before the last to deliver by three and a half lengths in the hands of Mark Walsh.

Roney represents Paul Nolan, and another Wexford mare, Liz Doyle’s Cordovan Brown (8s into 6s) was six and a half lengths back in third.

"She got the job done anyway but I thought she made hard work of it. We'll have to see where we go from here, and I'll talk to Frank Berry about a plan for her. It's a relief to have that behind us," said winning trainer John Queally on the J P McManus-owned Getaway Katie Mai.

The five-year-old was wearing a hood for the first-time on this occasion.

C.D. Maxwell, rider of Brazen Bay trained by John O. Clifford, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount gurgled from the second last.

(DM & EM)