Whatcouldhavebeen © Photo Healy Racing
As it had done with previous race winner Bottler'secret the fitting of cheekpieces for the first time had a positive effect on Whatcouldhavebeen (14/1) who landed the Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle under Aidan Kelly.
A course maiden winner and runner-up in the Grade 1 mares' novice hurdle at last year's Easter fixture, the six-year-old went on from market leader O'Moore Park after the fourth-last and kept on well in the home straight to account for that rival by nine and a half lengths.
Winning trainer Jarlath Fahey said:-“It's great as we haven't had a great run over the winter, a lot of our horses were under a cloud and just weren't performing.
“We thought she worked nicely the other morning, herself and Boher Road together. He was giving us a nice run until he decided to exit! That gave us a little bit of confidence that she was back somewhere near her best again.
“She was second in a Grade 1 at this meeting last year. Since she got her summer break she hasn't been firing and she's just coming back to herself now.
“We'll probably stick to handicap company for Punchestown. It's great to get her back in front again and back running the way she can run.
“Aidan kicked on a long way out. We were a bit worried when Oliver McKiernan's horse (Kilbree Warrior) came out as that is normally the pacesetter.
“She was starting to hit a bit of a flat spot in her races so we put the cheekpieces on and she travelled a bit better than she has been. They were just going too steady so it backfired a little bit on us as we had to push the pace on ourselves rather than being brought along.
“She is game and genuine and stayed at it well. It was a brilliant ride by Aidan, very similar to what he did in the Grade 1 last year. We didn't have Ashroe Diamond catching us down the straight today.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
