Lissen To The Lady wins under owner/jockey Joanna Walton© Photo Healy Racing
It was a case of gamble landed when Lissen To The Lady pounced on the run-in of the extended 2m3f handicap hurdle at Clonmel.
Marie Harding 's 10-year-old mare was noted being backed from 22/1 to 7/1 before racing began and went off at 5/1.
This was her third start in Ireland following on from a sixth at Tramore in November and fifth at Limerick over Christmas. The handicapper eased her by 1lb and she dropped in trip for this assignment.
She was always prominent under Joanna Walton and when Carlas Big Jim made a mistake at the last, Lissen To The Lady raced past him on the run-in to come in by three and a-half lengths. Runner-up Carlas Big Jim was a 13/2 chance and finished half a length up on Intersky Sunset (10/3 favourite).
Owner/jockey Walton said: "She was in training with Sandy Forster in the Scottish borders and owned by a distance relative Michael Walton. We got a good partnership going in the UK and, when she came up for sale in September, I couldn't let her go.Â
"I thought the 2m4f might be too short for her today, but it was heavier ground which suits her. I bought her to put in foal and while we'll see what happens, she will probably be covered this year.Â
"I work with Marie, who is busy with foals at home, and she has been very kind to me."
Lissen To The Lady won six times over hurdles in Britain for Forster.
This was Harding's first track winner since 2016.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
