Party Central (left) jumps to the front at the last © Photo Healy Racing
The 7/4 favourite Party Central was always travelling like a winner in the Grade B mares’ handicap hurdle.
There was a good gallop on up front and Davy Russell bided his time in mid-division aboard the winner who was scoring for the third time in four starts over hurdles.
Russell asked her to improve after the second-last and she moved up smoothly to track the leaders racing towards the final flight. The daughter of Yeats jumped to the front past Minx Tiara at the last and quickly went clear. Stable companion Say Goodbye (33/1) stayed on well on the run-in to reduce the winning margin to a length and three quarters at the line but the winner was never in any danger.
Minx Tiara emptied after the last and was caught for third by Banntown Girl (11/1).
After a near-miss with Riviere D’etel in yesterday’s Irish Arkle, it was a measure of compensation for winning owners Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud.
Paddy Power cut Party Central to 8/1 from 14s for the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham.
Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said: “I'd say she's a black-type mare to be fair. We had her in a black-type race last week but I thought, with the mark she had, she was too well handicapped to run her in it.
“We said we'd keep her for this and we could always get black-type somewhere else down the road. She has plenty of it already.
“Davy gave her a beautiful ride and when she got there she just pulled up, she had done enough. She's a nice mare.
“Noel and Valerie like to have a few broodmares so we'll try and make her into a broodmare.
“They'll be going to Cheltenham for the week so if they'd like to run her she'll be on the lorry.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
