Cinderella scores on second start over hurdles

Cinderella Story failed to score on her fifteen efforts on the level but on just her second start over hurdles she landed the Flannery's Bistro Mares Maiden Hurdle for her trainer Pat Martin with Andrew Thornton aboard.

The daughter of Catcher in the Rye, who was twice placed on the level, ran a cracker on her hurdling debut at Sligo recently, when finishing just two lengths second to Some Say.

The 5yo winner chased the leaders for much of the race and led turning into the straight for the final time. She wasn't fluent at the last and that appeared to give Hepahepa Naeney a winning chance. However she stuck at it well to come out on top at the line by a length and a quarter.

The winner was returned the 5/2 co favourite of three with the other co favourites, Fammi Sognare and Ross Bay finishing third and fourth respectively.

Winning trainer Pat Martin, who was recording his second winner in as many days, having won with Donatis Comet at Tipperary yesterday, said: "She did it well in the end although I thought her mistake at the last would cost here.

"She has been disappointing as she works so well at home.

"She is so big she's only starting to mature now.

"The ground is beautiful out there and she will go back for something on the flat."

Two jockeys were injured during the race with Keith Donoghue, who was brought down aboard Presenting Kate suffering a probable broken collar bone, while Shane Jackson who was aboard faller Double Bridge suffered a soft tissue injury to his ankle.

Donal Murphy