Influential Lady and Kieran Callaghan pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Influential Lady justified plenty of market support, as she made all in the Boylesports Handicap Hurdle, the most valuable race of the evening at Ballinrobe.
A now five-time winner, the James Barcoe-trained nine-year-old had been disappointing of late and was available at 20/1 in early shows for this two-mile-and-a-furlong contest.
Going as short as 9/2, the Yvonne Hennessy-owned bay eventually went off a 13/2 chance and was sent straight to the front by Kieran Callaghan.
Ridden away from the last, she quickly scooted a few lengths clear and kept up the gallop all the way to the line, coming home three-and-three-parts of a length to the good.
The hat-trick seeking Can't Stop Smiling (7/4f) had no luck in running and was caught behind a wall of horses in sixth away from two out.
Soon brought to the wide outside, he ran on well away from the last but never threatened the winner and had to settle for second under Aidan Kelly.
There was a further two-and-a-quarter lengths back to Wild Shot (15/2) in third, while As Tears Go By who was also chasing a hat-trick, faded tamely approaching the last and trailed home in rear.
"She's won over three miles on soft ground so we weren't going to hang around today. we were going to make it a good test going back to this trip," Callaghan revealed.
"In fairness we thought it was going to be too sharp for her but it's after turning out a little bit slower than good ground so that probably helped as well. She'd a nice light weight and there was no point holding her up.
"I didn't think I'd get it as easy in front as I did, I was able to dictate and I got to go when I wanted to go. I could hear plenty of sticks going behind me and I was waiting for something to come out of the pack, but she's very clever and wouldn't do much until she hears something coming to her.
"I quickened up from the back of the second-last and her jumping was brilliant, she'd been running over fences lately but she had won a nice few races over hurdles in the past.
"She was second over fences at Punchestown and a run like that was going to leave her bang there today. One or two runs since were a bit disappointing but hopefully she's back on the right track."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined As Tears Go By (GB), trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
