Novia makes the breakthrough in first time cheekpieces

The Mick Halford trained La Novia made the breakthrough in first time cheekpieces, as she took the Toals.com Bookmakers Handicap.

Placed on her first two starts of the year at Dundalk, she was last seen finishing seventh of twenty behind Landline at Naas.

Available at 16/1 in early shows, the daughter of Casamento went off at just 8s under Niall McCullagh.

Settled behind the leaders on the inner, the bay victor was angled out to challenge with two furlongs left to race.

She was ridden to lead from the furlong pole, and kept on well under pressure from there to score by three parts of a length. Idalia (14s to 10s) finished second under Ronan Whelan for Tracey Collins, while Groovy Jazz (9/2) was a neck back in third. Lady Godiva was sent off the 15/8 favourite, and she finished a well-beaten sixth.

McCullagh said afterwards: "The cheek pieces seemed to have made a difference as she travelled lovely. I followed Kevin (Manning, on Feisty Katerina and had to angle out but actually got there a little soon. That's her trip, that's her ground and that's her level. Hopefully she'll be competitive again with a little penalty.

"I had a nice draw, the trip went well and the ground is nice. It's just watered that the jar is out of it and she enjoyed it. Lots of positives from her today."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee