Shuil Valentine and David Kiely (orange) win impressively© Photo Healy Racing
The Bar One Racing ‘Good Luck At Cheltenham Mares’ (Pro/Am ) Flat Race saw an impressive debut success for Shuil Valentine (11/2).
The daughter of Presenting tracked the leaders before cruising into the lead over a furlong out.
She came a facile nine length winner from Mourne Stowaway (20/1) with It’sallabouteve (6/1) faring best of the previous winners in the line-up in third place. Burn The Evidence was sent off 13/8 favourite to make a winning debut but managed to beat only one home as she weakened in the straight.
The winner is related to useful winners Uisce Solas and Penny Out.
Tom Kiely, nephew of winning trainer John Kiely, said: “She’s a very nice mare. We were thinking of going to Leopardstown with her but she’s light and unfurnished.
“We gave her more time and wanted a bit of nicer ground being a Presenting. We weren’t going to run today if heavy was in the description. We said we’d take a chance and it has come off.
“That was very impressive. She’s very light so we haven’t over worked her. You wouldn’t be one hundred percent sure what you have until you go to the track.
“Hopefully we may go for the Liss A Paoraigh (Grade 3 Mares Bumper) at Punchestown. She deserves a crack at it after that.
“She’s bred by my wife Anita as well so that makes it all the sweeter.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
