What An Flyer (nearest) under Robbie Moran comes to catch Supreme Carolina despite Ruby Walsh's best efforts© Photo Healy Racing
The opening race at Cork this evening the Follow Cork on Facebook Mares Maiden Hurdle, produced a dramatic finish with the 12/1 shot (from 16/1 this morning) What An Flyer capitalising on the last flight error of the 11/4 favourite Supreme Carolina under Ruby Walsh.
The Willie Mullins trained favourite looked to have the contest in the bag as she race down to the last clear but she jumped it awkwardly and handed the initiative to the fast finishing Ann Lambert trained What An Flyer under Robbie Moran.
She then seized her opportunity on the run-in to head the favourite going on to score by a length and a quarter.
20/1 shot Springfort Diva was a further three parts of a length back in third for Charles Byrnes with Robert Jones aboard.
The winner, who is an 8yo chestnut daughter of Broadway Flyer, won a point-to-point in 2009 at Ballyragget and then won a bumper over the course in December 2010 (trainer's last track winner).
Since that victory she failed to score on six efforts over hurdles and was reverting back to maiden company today having run in handicaps on her last three outings.
She was in fact a non-runner at Wexford on Friday, where she was due to run in a 3m Handicap Hurdle, owning to the good ground conditions.
Willie Kelly, representing the winning trainer who trains in Killinick, Co Wexford, said afterwards: "She won her bumper here before well and she seems to be coming back to herself now. She will go chasing down the line.”
Donal Murphy & Alan Magee
