Barrogstown Girl and Neve Bennett© Photo Healy Racing
The Jarlath Fahey trained Barrogstown Girl made a winning handicap debut when staying on late under Neve Bennett to land the Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick Racecourse Apprentice Handicap.
Well beaten in four maiden starts, the daughter of Elusive Pimpernal was having her first outing in handicap company this afternoon.
Unable to go the early pace, Bennett was slightly detached leaving the back straight and appeared to have plenty to do when a moderate seventh entering the home straight.
However, as race leader So Diligent came back to the field, Struck By Churchill led over a furlong from the finish, At that point, the Andrew Slattery trained filly looked booked for success.
Bennett switched to the outside to go fourth inside the final furlong, keeping on strongly to edge ahead inside the last 50 yards to register a one-and-a-quarter length win.
Jarlath Fahey said: “It was her first time over the trip and on a dry surface. She’s like a lot of them she’s been handicapped on soft ground, and we were hoping the dryer ground would work in her favour.
“She was racing lazy early and got a bit detached. I said to Neve to try and get her home over the trip and don’t go after her until you get over the top of the hill. In fairness, she got her going in time and she came home nicely. She hit the line strong.
“She’s home bred by the brother Mick and he’s away with all the family in Salou, so I dare say there will be some strong stuff drank over there tonight!
“Her dam won over hurdles and you would think up in trip won’t be a problem. She’s still green and a bit raw.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
