Zinat (right) and Ashton Court battle it out on the run-in© Photo Healy Racing
Zinat recorded her second win this month when justifying 2/1 favouritism in division two of the Bloomfield House Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Kilbeggan.
The Roger McGrath-trained mare was 5lb higher than when successful at Clonmel eight days ago and continued a good run for Liam Quinlan, who has now won on four of his last six rides.
The grey daughter of Holy Roman Emperor, who won a maiden at Dundalk for Michael Halford over three years ago, reeled in Ashton Court on the run-in to score by three quarters of a length.
Top-weight Clody Valley was eight lengths away in third.
McGrath said, “I didn’t think she would handle the ground to tell you the truth. I was surprised to see her so short in the betting.
“She wants good ground really and it looked very tacky out there.
“We might head for the Flat now as she’s well handicapped. She’s a lovely honest mare.”
