Elegant Lass and Darragh O'Keeffe jump the last © Photo Healy Racing
First reserve Elegant Lass sprang a 50/1 surprise when winning the opening division of the Thanks To The Frontline Workers Handicap Hurdle at Bellewstown today, scoring successes for trainer Tom Gibney and jockey Darragh O'Keeffe.
Oromo's defection from the race this morning left a place for reserve Elegant Lass, a daughter of speed source Dandy Man, who eventually defied her odds (she had a Betfair SP of 132) when beating Shamad by eight lengths.
Irish Grand National winning trainer Gibney later explained “we stuck with her for a long time as she showed us loads at home.
“It was all in the head for her as she had to settle. She was never going hurdling but we went hurdling last year to try and settle her down and it's done a great job with her.
“She jumps well but I thought she'd struggle to get two miles to be honest.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
