Well-bred Dona gets the job done

Dona Katharina made it third time lucky over flights, as she ran out an easy winner of the Tom Murphy Mercedes Benz CLA Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Third on her previous two starts, the Gordon Elliott trained five-year-old was expected to get off the mark this evening, going off the clear 9/10 favourite under Denis O'Regan.

Always prominent, the Stowaway bay held a definite advantage from four out and was clear approaching the second last, going on to score decisively by fourteen lengths. Somethinboutangela (16/1) kept on into second under Jody McGarvey for James Sheehan, while Tropical Stream (13/2) was another two and a quarter lengths back in third.

O’Regan said in the aftermath: "Her jumping seemed to be the key. She got lengths at her hurdles and enjoyed the fast ground. I suppose she just jumped them into the ground really.

"It wasn't the strongest of races but it's great for her pedigree that she has won.

"I think she is a stayer and I wanted to make sure it was a test of stamina. She might even jump a fence in time."

The winner is owned by Edward Walsh and is a full-sister to whole host of winners, with Outlander, Ice Cold Soul, Mart Lane and Western Leader the most notable of them.