The Tipperary (Ladies) Handicap Hurdle at Thurles proved a memorable occasion for amateur Rachael Blackmore after she partnered her first winner aboard Stowaway Pearl
The Shark Hanlon-trained gelding left his previous form well behind when running out a game winner of the two-mile contest.
Blackmore tracked the leaders throughout before sending her mount into the lead going to the final flight.
An untidy jump at the last didn't halt his momentum as he went on for a four-length success over long-time leader Red Basil
The Stowaway gelding had been placed in a polnt-to-point on his debut last season but had failed to show much on the track until today.
Blackmore, who hails from Killenaule, has had around 30 rides in point-to-points but was having only her second ride 'on the track' today.
"It's all down to Davy Russell. I was struggling to get someone and he said she was a good rider," said Hanlon afterwards. "She did everything she was told."
"He's entered again next week and will probably run again. The last day at Tramore he was all wrong when he came back."
