Ballyshannon Rose and Paddy Kennedy © Photo Healy Racing
Ballyshannon Rose (16/1) won the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle to continue a good run of form for jockey Paddy Kennedy.
The 7-year-old daughter of Doyen led three out and stayed on well to beat A Girl Like Me (10/3) by a length and three quarters, with Rubiana (15/2) another eight and a half lengths away in third.
It was Kennedy’s third winner from his last seven rides and a 12th winner of the season.
The winner was making her first appearance since finishing a distant fifth behind subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Monkfish at Fairyhouse last December, and was successful off a mark of 87 on this handicap debut.
Winning trainer Paul Fahey said: “She had very good runs in bumpers and lost her way; she unseated going to the start once, then wouldn't go to the start and for some reason this year she seems to have settled and has grown up.
"I have the privilege of riding her out every morning but she is actually perfect at home; it just took time for her to settle down and to grow into herself.
"Fair play to the owner (Mr Hughes) as he has had patience with her and has never annoyed me because with a big mare like that, you can't rush them.
"She is a smashing mare and is in an amateur handicap, for my son Aaron to ride, at Limerick on Tuesday so we'll see how she comes out of this."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
