With her rating of 109, Carries Darling was appealing to some on track at Clonmel and she was backed from 13/2 into 11/2 for the Cahir Mares Maiden Hurdle. She certainly had every chance of taking this on the best of her form and she got the job done under Paddy Mangan.

The Flemensfirth mare, a bumper winner around this time last year at Limerick, accounted for useful point-to-point performer, Miss Palm by two and a half lengths. There was two lengths and six lengths back to the third and fourth place finishers, Ma Belle Amie and Shinawil (a morning market mover).

Jimmy Mangan trains Carries Darling for William Mangan and the Conna handler said: "That was good. I was a little disappointed with her at Fairyhouse (7th then) but she came on from the run and had no hold-ups since.

"After her Listowel run (4th there behind Ted Veale) she was off her feed as she had a hard race. We discovered that she had a disc out in her back too. I needn't tell you about fillies and she'll go hurdling now." (TW & EM)