Rachael Blackmore moved on to the 89 winner mark for the campaign when triumphant aboard The Cathal Don (6/5 joint favourite) in the New Spring Two Day N.H. Race Meeting Maiden Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

Eight days on from a Limerick disappointment and with a first-time tongue-strap fitted, Richard Frayne's five-year-old moved up travelling smoothly to win his race from after two out.

The lady of the moment is now six off leader and champion Paul Townend, in the battle for 2020/21 honours.

Jamie Codd has title aspirations himself on course, for the amateur crown. Here he had to work on the winner’s fellow market-leader, The Greek from some way out.

That Leading Light gelding kept going well, but not well enough to quite match the Henry de Bromhead-trained The Cathal Don. Half a length split them.

“He was a bit disappointing in Limerick but much better there today. He enjoyed the track and the ground, and hopefully there will be more days to come now,” said Blackmore.

“He goes nicely at home so it was nice that he could do that today.”

(AM & EM)