Cappacurry Ealu with winning connections © Photo Healy Racing
The Nora Canty (Mares) Maiden Hurdle was won by 8/1 chance Cappacurry Ealu
The daughter of Getaway looked booked for second at best when coming to the final flight but the fall of Russellsbelle left her disputing the lead with Magic Dawn and Sean O'Keeffe's mount went away to beat that rival by two and a quarter lengths.
Rated 102 after three previous starts over hurdles and sporting cheekpieces for the first time, the winner is trained by Leslie Young who said: "She isn't a bad mare, the trip was on the short side and Sean said he was still going ok and was staying on (when Russellsbelle fell).
"She was only beaten a couple of lengths at Cork in March and finished fourth in a Naas bumper. She'll only improve but the ground is getting as good as she'd want it now.
"The owners Tom Treacy and Seanie O'Connell are on the committee at Ballinrobe racecourse and previously won eight races with Cappacurry Zak for us.
"She has a good pedigree and her half-brother Now Is The Hour won a Haydock Grade 2 hurdle for Gavin Cromwell and the lads have a half-sister by Yeats going to the Derby Sale."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
