Hollo Ladies landed a nice touch for his local connections in the Santa Claus Maiden Hurdle after being backed from as high as 9/2 in the morning into 7/4 favourite. He showed all the right qualities to score under Davy Condon.
Noel Meade 's chestnut son of Captain Rio, led three out but he was headed from two out by his main market-rival, Far Away So Close (travelling best at the time). However Condon had the market leader back in front before the last and he stayed on well to prevail by three lengths. Far Away So Close only held on to the runner-up berth by a head from Curling
Meade commented afterwards: "The winning owner, Richard Heaney lives just across the fields from me. I was disappointed with this fellow's first run for us (5th here a fortnight ago behind Where's The Dosh) but he came on from it and I like him.
"He stays well and even though he is flat bred, he'll be better over another half a mile. We knew he'd put his head down and gallop, he jumps well and we'll find a novice hurdle for him somewhere now."
