Kalopsia "picks up the pieces"

With even money favourite Miss Me Now pulling up before the second last after dropping out halfway, Kalopsia came to the fore to land the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Mares Hurdle at Thurles.

The Mark Walsh-ridden Kalopsia, bred by Aidan and Annmarie O'Brien's Whisperview Trading Limited, is trained by their son Joseph, and is owned by J P McManus.

Kalopsia headed the pace-setting Monbeg Rose before the last on the way to an eleven length success.

"Mark gave her a great ride and left them at it and sneaked around. He said going out that he'd take his time and pick up the pieces and it worked perfectly. He gave her a peach," said Joseph O'Brien.

"She is getting the hang of jumping - she was a good bumper mare in fairness and has now won two hurdles. There is also a 1m4f maiden at Dundalk in a couple of weeks and might also be worth her chance in a Graded hurdle if the ground wasn't bottomless."

Miss Me Now was found to be lame and her jockey Ruby Walsh explained: "They were going a good gallop and I was happy enough over the first across into the straight but she then took a chance at the second last first time.

"She wasn't great at the last with a circuit to go but I went by here and she was flat as a pancake — never going and couldn't keep up with Kalopsia.

"I know we were a long way off the ones in front but I couldn't even keep up with the eventual winner. She just got further and further behind — there obviously had to be something up."

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Miss Me Now, trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be lame behind post race.

(TW & EM)