Feenakilmeedy and Davy Russell are clear over the final hurdle© Photo Healy Racing
Davy Russell and Charles Byrnes were out of luck with the frustrating Kerrieonvic in the opener at Limerick but they made no mistake in the following 2m3f mares maiden hurdle where Feenakilmeedy recorded a facile success.
The daughter of Alflora showed plenty of promise when runner-up here over Christmas before losing her chance early on with a bad blunder at Fairyhouse last time.
However the evens favourite made no mistake here, surging to the front approaching the penultimate flight.
Russell, fresh from a memorable treble at Cheltenham yesterday highlighted by the Gold Cup win of Lord Windermere, hardly moved a muscle as the six-year-old cruised to victory. Cinder Rua was greatly flattered to get within two lengths of the eased down winner at the line, with Corporate Box in third.
Byrnes said, “The owner was pushing me for this race because of the €5,000 bonus (ITBA National Hunt Fillies Scheme). She was unlucky the last day where she made a bad mistake at the first but she’d a good run here over Christmas before that.
“We’ll try to get her some black type in a mares’ race now.”
Byrnes also reports his Arkle Chase third Trifolium in good form saying “He’s a 100 per cent. He ran his race so you can’t do anymore. He’ll probably go to Punchestown but it all depends on the ground.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
