Ryan dedicates Pearl success to late breeder Maher Red Pearl made the breakthrough on her tenth start over flights, as she stayed on best to take the Dale Farm Dromona Mares Maiden Hurdle. Successful in a bumper on debut at Ballinrobe in May of 2015, the Stephen Ryan trained seven-year-old was a good second on her penultimate start at Punchestown. She since however disappointed when tried in handicap company at the Galway Festival, and was sent off at 9/2 this evening (backed from 11/2 on-course). The daughter of Kayf Tara was fifth and appeared to struggling from three out, but under a canny Davy Russell ride she was switched to the inner before the final flight, and led inside the last 100 yards, staying on well to score by a length in first time blinkers. The front-running Its All A Lark (9/1) had to settle for second under Paddy Kennedy for Colin Bowe, while Under Surveillance (9s to 11/2) was another half a length back in third. The Princetonian was sent off the 3/1 favourite, but she could only manage fifth. Ryan said afterwards: "She was very game and he (Davy Russell) said he was always going to win. I thought turning in we were in trouble. On that ground she just wants to go a little further. That is her ground. "She was bred and owned by a man called Richie Maher who died in April and we are dedicating that win to him. "I'd say two and a half miles handicapping now, it depends on the ground. We went to Galway and I knew going to Galway I was in trouble, the ground was just gone for her. She's decent enough on good ground. She loves to mark the top of it. "I have eight in at the minute - I lost two during the summer, one in Roscommon and one in Tramore and that hit me hard. "I won a bumper in May with another horse and I have a few nice horses." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
