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Valbucca wins again on seasonal debut

Valbucca on her way to victory under Wayne LordanValbucca on her way to victory under Wayne Lordan
© Photo Healy Racing

Valbucca made a successful return to action as she took the Club Bar Bistro at Keadeen Hotel Handicap under Wayne Lordan for trainer Willie McCreery.

The six-year-old daughter of Val Royal was last seen winning at Navan in October when sent off the 4/1 joint favourite and making her seasonal debut this afternoon she was sent off at the big odds of 16/1 (11/1 this morning and 14/1 out to 16/1 on-course).

The bay filly hit the front at the two furlong pole and she stuck to her task well coming home three parts of a length to the good from The Fox Tully (7/1) in second under Colin Keane for his father Ger. Coco Bella was a further half a length back in third under Ben Curtis for Paul Deegan at 25/1 while the 4/1 favourite (from 5/1 on-course), Benbecula could only manage a disappointing sixth under Johnny Murtagh for Tommy Carmody.

Willie McCreery said afterwards; "I thought the ground might be a bit dead for her but she is an honest filly. She will go for a fillies handicap next at Navan on the 19th (of May).

"Pat (owner/breeder Peat Cosgrove) actually bought her as a companion for another horse he has with me, Kanes Pass."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
16/1
Tote €31.40 €7.50
2nd
0.75L
7/1
€3.10
3rd
0.5L
25/1
€8.80
4th
0.5L
6/1
bf
4.5L
4/1Fav
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.