Lucky Phil leads Light Of My Life away from the last© Photo Healy Racing
Light Of My Life made the breakthrough on her third start over flights, as she took the Peggy Guerin Memorial (Mares) Maiden Hurdle.
Trained by Edward O'Grady, the daughter of Yeats was second on her last start at Ballinrobe when proving no match for French import Don't Hesitate.
Sent off a 6/1 chance today, the JP McManus owned victor was settled in mid-division by Mark Walsh and was fifth with a circuit to race.
She was hampered and done very well to avoid being brought down at the fourth last when Bonarc came to grief and took out 7/4 second favourite Under Surveillance
The five-year-old victor was poised behind the leader in fourth approaching the next, and was pushed along to challenge in second as they raced towards the final flight.
She got to the front shortly after that obstacle and soon asserted, going on to score by four and a quarter lengths. Lucky Phil (20/1), who hit the front after the third last, had to settle for second under Bryan Cooper for his father Tom, while Iknowwhereiamnow (33/1) was another three and a quarter lengths back in third. Moskovite was sent off the 6/4 favourite, and she finished a very disappointing fifth.
Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said afterwards: "She was a bit lucky not to be brought down. She ran well at Ballinrobe.
"It wasn't the strongest of races but she's learning and has come on a bit. It's nice to win a race with her."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
