Pixie Spirit (cheekpieces) leads them home under Ana O'Brien © Photo Healy Racing
Ana O’Brien, who is in the middle of her leaving certificate examinations and turned eighteen just last week, recorded her seventh career success as she got Pixie Spirit up close home to win the Follow @LimerickRaces On Twiiter Handicap for trainer James Nash.
The four-year-old, who runs in the Mary Hayes silks made famous by Newmill, wasn't winning out of turn here having gone close on a couple of occasions already this season.
He was beaten just half a length by Lily's Prince at Fairyhouse last week when also ridden by O’Brien, and he was sent off the 4/1 joint-favourite to go one place better this evening.
Settled towards the rear the chestnut colt had plenty to do from the two furlong pole, but he got a nice run through from over a furlong out, getting to the front with 50 yards to race before going on to score by half a length. Hatton Cross who was backed from 14/1 to 8/1 on-course, ran a fine race in second under Wayne Lordan for Thomond O’Mara, while The Dancing Lord also ran well in third, another half a length back under Fran Berry for John Geoghegan.
Apace Gold was the other joint-favourite and he finished fourth for John Joe Walsh and Niall McCullagh.
James Nash wasn’t present for the win but he said via the phone: "It's great. We fancied him in Navan but he got no run and he just got beaten in Fairyhouse - simple as that.
"I'm delighted for the owners as he's home-bred and they've been looking at him since he was born.
"He has a fair pedigree and the mare was a fair mare.
"Ana gave him a fabulous ride. Hopefully he can pick up another one."
The win for Ana rounded of a perfect day for the O'Brien clan, with her father and brother combining to take the Epsom Derby earlier in the day with Australia.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
