Ribchestina makes good impression on debut

Ribchestina pulled away late on to land the opening juvenile fillies maiden at Naas in good style for trainer Sheila Lavery.

The daughter of Ribchester was sent to post a 12/1 shot on her debut and tracked the leaders early in the race, run over just shy of six furlongs.

She was a touch green when asked to go between horses and challenge a furlong from home but got on top in the final 100 yards, under Robbie Colgan, to record a convincing two-length win over 4/6 favourite Vanity Pays

The winner cost just €3,000 as a yearling last September. She is a half-sister to a winner in Sense Of Romance.

Colgan said afterwards:- “We always thought she did her few canters at home really nicely and everything she does she learns from.

“We thought she would handle the soft ground. She’s probably really a seven-furlong horse but we thought she was ready to go and is probably going to mature and strengthen into a nice horse.

“She was green through the race but was always in her comfort zone. I was just waiting for the gaps and she galloped on, I couldn’t pull her up. Hopefully there is plenty of improvement to come.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)