Poitin does Clarke and Downey another favour

Seven of Poitin s eight previous wins had come on the all-weather. She managed another victory on the turf at Leopardstown tonight though, in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Rated Race.

On the grass at Lingfield in September 2013 Poitin shed her maiden tag but it'd been Kempton twice and five at Dundalk in the interim.

It took a while for the 'finishers,' Poitin and Rummaging to get on terms with de Coronado and Crafted Jewel

At the line the Keith Clarke-trained and Robbie Downey-ridden Poitin (12/1) was a neck up on Rummaging.

"Great result. She's a very smart filly, probably one of the best fillies I've had, and that's her sixth win for me," said Clarke.

"She was just treated a bit better on the turf than she was on the all-weather.

"Normally March time is her prime time to win but I had just been hitting walls with her and things weren't going right.

"I wasn't even confident of running a big race tonight I was just searching for some kind of spark back in her.

"Robbie seems to get a little spark out of her and she runs well for him. A lot of credit and praise has to go to Kenny McCrossan who looks after her every day. He does a great job with her and makes my job very easy.

"Where we go now I don't know because today was just about getting the run out the way and see where we are."

D.P. McDonogh, rider of California Lad (GB) trained by F.Birrane, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung throughout and shied from horses on his outside before the home turn.

(GC & EM)