Meadow Vale was around a 1/2 shot for the Blackstairs Maiden Hurdle this morning, but he could be backed at evens on track (returned 4/5) as money came for Posthouse Lady (16s in the morning into 7/1) and Valhalla Vision (7s into 4s). As it turned out Meadow Vale (rated 119) was able to fend off the two gambles, beating the pair by one and a quarter lengths and a short head.

The favourite got to the front three out under Robert McCarth, and after getting the last wrong, the son of Bob Back only had to be ridden out to assert. Pat Fahy, the winning trainer, wasn't present, but his wife Natalie said that the Marie McSharry-owned chestnut would now be stepped back up in class. (EM)