Jetara and Donagh Myler© Photo Healy Racing
Punchestown festival runner-up Jetara (11/10f) made a winning seasonal reappearance at Limerick today as the Jessica Harrington-trained blue-blood landed the Listed Irish EBF Cailin Alainn (Mares) Hurdle, under Donagh Meyler.
From a top National Hunt family which includes Champion Hurdle winner Jezki, Jetara had been placed in three consecutive Grade 1 races last term and, on her latest start, chased home star novice Ballyburn at Punchestown.
Carrying top weight today, Jetara was produced from behind the leaders to challenge in the home straight and while strongly-pressed by Royal Eagle on the run-in, held on for an all-out short-head success.
Afterwards Meyler, riding his third winner for Harrington, stated “it is great to ride a quality mare like this and it's not every day when you're flicking through form and see '2nd to Ballyburn'.
"It was a pleasure to put my leg across her and obviously a pleasure to ride for the trainer and owner. She switched off, stuck out her head and did what she had to do having jumped fluently throughout. It is grand to see her settling and hopefully she will come on from it.”
Regarding his recent link-up with Harrington, he added “I have recently have some luck for her and it is great to be riding this quality of horse.
“I said at the start of the year that I'd keep my shoulder to the wheel, so we'll keep driving forward. I had that success at Galway (on Pinkerton in the Plate) so have momentum on my side but you have to keep pushing forward.”
