Flidais opens chase account at 14/1 Flidais appreciated a drop back in trip to reward supporters at 14/1 in the Kilmanahan Beginners Chase, the opening race at Clonmel this afternoon. The John Ryan-trained mare, available at 33/1 earlier in the day, made headway in the straight to lead before the final fence and kept on well on the run-in under Sean O'Keeffe to score by four lengths in this two-mile event. The 6/5 favourite Ballybrittas cut out a lot of the running but couldn’t find any extra in the closing stages to take second, with On Lovers Walk a neck further back in third. Ryan said, "I thought it was today's bumper I'd be winning and not this race, but Flidais is a lovely mare and this is great. "I had been disappointed with her, but it is difficult to get her fully fit. She is a real mare for the summertime and is only getting ready for the summer really. "She is out of a 12-time winning mare so has a good pedigree and we'll try and get some blacktype for her. I own her with Paddy Everard, and we'll probably breed from her. Paddy's wife is a cousin of mine." Flidais, successful twice in the past over hurdles, was having her third run over fences. Quotes by Tom Weekes
