Brides Hill leads at the final fence© Photo Healy Racing
None travelled better than Brides Hill in the opening Listed mares' novices' chase at Thurles and she strode away from her main rivals on the run-in. Telmesomethinggirl went off 6/5 favourite from 13/8 second favourite Instit and the former took up the running six out when the leader, Darrens Hope put in a slow jump.
She was soon followed through to the next by Instit, but Brides Hill closed on the pair after the second-last fence.
Luke Dempsey was virtually motionless as his mount tanked upsides a hard-at-work Telmesomethinggirl before the last and took over in jumping it.
Dempsey merely had to push her for a few strides on the run-in for his partner to stretch away by four lengths at 7/2. Telmesomethinggirl came in second and was four and a-quarter lengths clear of Instit.
This was Brides Hill's first win over fences to go with three over hurdles. She beat a pair of horses who were both victorious on their last starts.
Gavin Cromwell said: "She got an awful fright when she fell at Fairyhouse (in October) and it has taken her a long time to get confidence and, in her races since, has been slow to warm up over the opening fences.
"She came straight into it today and jumped brilliantly. We had given her a pop this morning, when she was very good and Paul Carberry actually schooled her on Saturday and got a good tune out of her.
"She isn't a winter-ground mare and is a lovely mare going forward for next year. It wouldn't have been the end of the world if she didn't win today as she'd have been a novice for next year, but now the Grade 1 Boylesports Gold Cup at Fairyhouse is a possibility."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
