Listed-placed bumper mare Dreamingandhoping justified 9/4 favouritism in winning Ballinrobe's opening race of the year today, the Ballinrobe Racecourse Maiden Hurdle, scoring for trainer Declan Queally and his son, jockey and assistant of the same name.

Runner-up on debut in a Listed contest at Navan in November 2019, the bumper winning daughter of Shirocco today made the breakthrough on her seventh start over hurdles, when making all for a two and three parts of a length win over Karla Martina

Afterwards winning jockey Declan Queally junior stated “we kept it simple from the front after changing tactics the last day which didn’t work. She has black-type in bumpers so it’s great to get a hurdle win into her.

“I’m delighted for Diarmuid and Tomas Horgan (owner/breeders) as they’re neighbours of ours.”

Quotes from Eamonn Murphy