Heliers Bay and Sean O'Keeffe jump the last ahead of eventual third Yeats Encore© Photo Healy Racing
The Yupana Inc California Handicap Hurdle (Div I) went to 5/1 (from 10/3 first show) chance Heliers Bay ridden by 5lbs claimer Sean O’Keeffe.
There had been plenty of market support for the Flemensfirth mare earlier in the day (as big as 10/1 in the morning) and she was travelling well just behind the leaders heading down the back straight for the last time.
She went on from the final flight to easily account for 4/1 co-favourites Derby De Thaix and the front-running Yeats Encore by four and three quarter lengths and two and three quarter lengths, with the other 4/1 co-fav Acclamatio finishing in sixth place.
The winner, trained by Jessicaa Harrington, had run respectably a couple of times in maiden hurdles over the winter and made light of an opening mark of 88.
The winning rider has been in a rich vein of form since jump racing returned and this was his 12th winner of the campaign.
“She was good on the nicer ground after a break since the winter when she was running on soft, said O’Keeffe.
“She learned as she went along today. She was good to stay galloping to the line there.”
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
