She's A Star leads Wilms Warrior over the last© Photo Healy Racing
She's A Star justified favouritism in the Listowel Mares Maiden Hurdle, scoring on her debut over flights, providing trainer Noel Meade with his fourth winner from his last six runners.
Successful in a bumper on her first start at Down Royal in February, the daughter of Well Chosen then finished a disappointing fifth of six on her next outing at Naas in March.
Sent off the the 7/4 market leader this afternoon she was settled in mid-division by Sean Flanagan, and was sixth with a circuit to race.
She made good progress into second on the approach to the straight, hitting the front on the run to the last, and despite a mistake there, she kept on well under pressure on the run-in, going on to score by five and a half lengths. Wilms Warrior finished second under Brian O'Connell for Andy Slattery at 5/2, while the well-supported Queeny (33's last night and from 16's to 10's on-course) was twelve lengths back in third under Mark Enright for Ronnie O'Leary.
Sean Flanagan said afterwards: "She won a bumper at Down Royal and the form of that race worked out quite well. She had a run after that but the horses just weren't really on form at the time.
"Her work at home was very, very good and the horses are now in good form. She schooled really well at home and could probably jump a bit slicker but was a bit careful.
"She'll improve and loves that ground and it is essential to her.
"She is a small mare with a big future."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
