She's A Fine Wine and Rachael Blackmore. © Photo Healy Racing
She's A Fine Wine got up close home under Rachael Blackmore to edge out Je T'Ai Porte in an exciting finish to the Monroe's Live John Monroe Memorial Mares Handicap Hurdle at Ballinrobe.
Last seen when running below par at Limerick over Christmas, the Henry De Bromhead trained mare looked back to her best here as she travelled with much more fluency through the race.
Always front rank, just off the leader Je T'Ai Porter, Blackmore went third after two out. Improving a further position on the run to the last, the six-year-old went in pursuit of the Gavin Cromwell trained mare entering the straight.
Locked together from over a furlong out, it was only inside the last 50 yards that She's A Fine Wine edged ahead to run out a game half-length winner.
Rachael Blackmore said: "She settled really well and jumped super.
"She didn't really show up at all at Limerick, I don't think it was just the heavy ground, so even though I think the ground helped her today, I wouldn't be drawing a line through her on soft ground.
"We thought she was very nice after the first day she ran and then she was a bit keen with me at Navan, but she was good today and battled well. It's great to get her back on the right path and I'm sure Henry has a plan in mind for her for the summer."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan.
