Doctor Nightingale heads for home© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott's Doctor Nightingale turned over the odds-on-favourite Jeaniemacaroney to make the breakthrough in the fillies' maiden hurdle at Limerick.
Peter Smithers set out to dominate on Jeaniemacaroney over this minimum trip, but the pair were pressed by Duhallow Jury and Jack Gilligan before the fifth of nine flights.
Duhallow Jury weakened approaching the straight as both Doctor Nighingale and Lady Of The Locke took much closer order on Jeaniemacaroney.
Jeaniemacaroney and Doctor Nightingale went on from Lady Of The Locke on the run to the last and were soon locked together in a battle.
It was Doctor Nightingale who found more on the run-in, though, as she asserted her superiority by a length and three-parts at 7/2, backed in from 5/1.
Jeaniemacaroney (8/13f) had to settle for the runner-up berth for the third time over hurdles, but was five-and-a-half-lengths clear of Lady Of The Locke (10/3).
Winning-jockey Danny Gilligan said: "We didn't go mad (fast) and I was happy enough to let the two leaders go on as I wanted to keep the bit up in her mouth for as long as I could.
"The ground is quite testing and she is only a small, light filly, but it worked out for her because I got a nice gap (on the inner) and she was brave to take it.
"I thought we quickened up nicely over the last two and she was good when I needed her. She has loads of experience, but wasn't doing a whole pile in front.
"She went through that ground, but I think she'll be a fun, summer filly and nicer ground mightn't do her any harm."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
