Alabaster with Rachael Blackmore and Meghan Donovan© Photo Healy Racing
There is hardly a busier jockey in the country at present than Rachael Blackmore, and her work ethic was rewarded with success aboard Alabaster in the O'Neill's Bar Rated Novice Hurdle.
Having ridden out at Willie Mullins' this morning, Blackmore then headed to Leopardstown for one ride in the afternoon, before heading south to Tramore for a further four spins.
Alabaster, who is trained by Denis Hogan and owned by James McAuley, came in for good market support (9/2 to 7/2) for this extended two and a half mile contest.
Settled in second, the grey gelding was shuffled back to mid-division with a circuit to race and found himself short of room when attempting to challenge from the second last.
He needed to be switched to the outer before the final flight and kept on best under pressure on the run-in, going on to prevail by a length and three parts.
The Henry de Bromhead trained Eagle Moon (10/3) finished second, while Insane Bolt who was sent off the 2/1 favourite, was a nose back in third under Sean O'Keeffe.
Blackmore said in the aftermath: "He had a good run the last day and didn't ruin the fairy tale ending for Denis! It was great that he got his head in front today and he stuck it out well.
"There was no split coming so I had to go around runners but he did it well in the end."
