Heia and Paul Townend win the Dunhill Mares Beginners Steeplechase © Photo Healy Racing
Heia gave those who traded at short odds few anxious moments when easily making a winning debut over fences in the Dunhill Mares Beginners Chase at Tramore.
A very useful handicap hurdler, the Willie Mullins trained six-year-old was sent off at prohibitive odds of 2-7f to make her first venture over fences a winning one.
Paul Townend sent the daughter of No Risk At All straight to the front from flag fall and the duo were never headed. Jumping well for one having her first start over fences, she had her rivals in trouble on the run to two out, soon quickening clear to readily assert. Butterflyvespiere stepped up on her previous two chase runs to finish a clear second, with Return To Base back in third.
Paul Townend said: "She jumped really well and every time I asked her, she was there for me. She has taken to fences really well since the first day we tried her over them. She was like a little motorbike around here today. I'd imagine she'll be kept going for the summer as she likes good ground."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
