Chase The Favourite clears the last under Bryan Cooper© Photo Healy Racing
The opening race at Kilbeggan this evening, the www.kilbegganraces.com Maiden Hurdle, went to Chase The Favourite, who was recording her first success on her tenth career start.
Trained by Dessie Hughes and ridden by Bryan Cooper (ninth winner of the new campaign), the daughter of Hubbly Bubbly was sent off the 2/1 favourite having finished a good second last time out behind Sin Palo
Outsider Bobby’s Last made the early running as the winner settled in third. She then closed up on the inside at the sixth and hit the front from five out.
She was soon kicked on by Cooper and although her lead was reduced on the run-in, she was always in command and scored by three and a half lengths at the line. Wall Street Wally attempted to chase her down from before the straight but he couldn’t peg her back and had to settle for second under Paul Carberry for Noel Meade at 7/1.
20/1 outsider The Sweetest Thing ran a good race to complete the placings a further nine and a half lengths back in third under Tom Doyle for trainer Tim Doyle.
Winning trainer Dessie Hughes said afterwards: "She will probably run in a handicap now. She has a mark of 101. She will be entered again quickly.
"She is a top of the ground mare and while the ground stays good she will run.
"She will go chasing shortly although they are rare at the moment. She is a summer mare and she couldn’t have done it any better."
The winner was purchased by her owner Pat Fallon at the Tattersalls Sales in November of 2005 for just €3,200.
(On course reporting by Gary Carson)
