Shadow Eile (backed from 5/1 this morning into 5/2 at the off) ran out an easy five lengths winner of the opening race on the card at Galway this afternoon, the Mervue Maiden Hurdle, for her trainer Dot Love with Shay Barry aboard.
However she may not have had it as easy, as at the second last the 5/4 favourite Worldly Wise who was still travelling well, was squeezed for room and fell.
The winning daughter of Beneficial was last seen pulling up in the Grade 1, Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival, but before that she won her bumper at Down Royal in March beating the smart Giant's Quest and finished second to Samian in another bumper at the Curragh.
On her hurdling debut today the 6yo was always prominent at slow pace set by Away Up North She then took over at the second last and was soon ridden clear, staying on well to win easily. Coral Creek kept on to take second at 10/1 while the front running outsider Away Up North finished a further two lengths back in third at 50/1.
Winning trainer Dot Love said afterwards: "We weren’t really expecting her to win today but we knew she'd run well. She was seven, eights fit.
"The plan is to go to Listowel now for a Mares Hurdle.
"A lot of the credit goes to her owner Sean Reilly, who is from Mullingar. He walked the track twice to make sure it was ok for her.
"Shay (Barry) gave her some ride.”
Donal Murphy
