Mystical Goddess and Darragh O'Keeffe lead Marcus Furius over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Despite a market drift, Mystical Goddess ran out a ready winner of the opener at Clonmel this afternoon, the Killaloan Maiden Hurdle.
The winner of a point-to-point at Ballyvodock when in the care of Michael Griffin, the Walk In The Park five-year-old was as short as 10/11 in early shows.
Drifting from 9/4 to 10/3 late on, the Henry de Bromhead-trained bay was settled behind the leaders by Darragh O'Keeffe, racing mainly in fourth.
While short of room on the approach to two out, she soon got the desired gap and led before the final flight, keeping on strongly from there to score by four and three quarters of a length.
Returned the well-backed 15/8 favourite (from 10/3), Marcus Furius couldn't match the winner from the last and had to settle for second under Sean Flanagan.
There was a further two and a half lengths back to Pahlavi (7/1) in third.
"She did it nicely, jumped really well and travelled well. I was in a pocket coming to the second-last but she winged that flight and once she got some daylight, she quickened up well," O'Keeffe reflected.
"She is a lovely mare, it is nice to get her started and nice to see her doing that."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Raceday Stewards reviewed an incident on the approach to the second last hurdle involving Pahlavi, ridden by J.C. Gainford, placed third, Arctic Piper ridden by P.T. Enright, placed fifth, and Mystical Goddess, ridden by D.J. O'Keeffe, placed first, where it appeared the three horses came close together. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no further action was warranted.
D.J Gilligan, rider of Westinjet trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran very green.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
