Unaccompanied makes winning return Dual Grade 1 winning hurdler Unaccompanied took the last at Navan this afternoon, the navanracecourse.ie race over 1m 5f, at the odds of 9/10 favourite for her trainer Dermot Weld with Pat Smullen aboard. The 5yo daughter of Danehill Dancer was last seen finishing a disappointing fourth in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January behind Hurricane Fly, when she was sent off the second favourite at 11/4. Having her first start on the level since finishing second in a 1m 2f Handicap at Leopardstown in November, the bay mare hit the front just under two furlongs from home before keeping on well to score in comfortable fashion. The 2/1 second favourite Rising Wind for Kevin Prendergast and Chris Hayes finished in the runner-up spot a length and a quarter back while Robin Hood was third at 4/1 for Joseph and Aidan O’Brien. The front three went eleven lengths clear of the fourth placed horse who was the 25/1 shot Whisper Gently. Kris Weld, son of the winning trainer, said afterwards: "She is a great mare and has been a great servant. "She is a Listed winner already on the flat and we will be looking for more blacktype with her now although we have no specific targets. "She is entered in a lot of different Listed and Group races." The win of Unaccompanied rounded of a great day for punters as she was the sixth winning favourite from the eight races. (DM & AM)
