Lughnasa and Philip Enright © Photo Healy Racing
Lughnasa got off the mark over hurdles with a cosy victory in the Great Oak Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park.
Philip Enright settled the Westerner mare behind the leaders in the two-mile contest before closing on front-runner War Correspondent going to the third last.
Robert Tyner's charge hit the front at the penultimate flight and soon shook off the challenge of Lettermacaward
The easy to back 7/2 shot (9/4 in morning) pulled clear before the last and galloped on strongly to record an eight-length victory. 3/1 favourite Golden Plan kept on into third without threatening.
The winner had been a faller at Clonmel last time when looking held in second behind Sarabad and today's success was adding to a bumper victory on her debut at Cork last March.
“She was very smart. I wasn't really expecting her to win,” revealed Tyner afterwards.
“The fall might not have done her any harm the last day. She's been schooling much better at home since.
“After she won her bumper we couldn't get her right on her next two runs. We'll see what mark she gets now and she could go for a little handicap.”
Tyner also reported that owner/breeder Salome Brennan, who hails from Mullingar, was unable to make the racing today.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
