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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Winning start over hurdles for Shattered Love

Tue 4th Oct 2016, 14:51

Shattered Love on her way to victory at TipperaryShattered Love on her way to victory at Tipperary
© Photo Healy Racing

Gordon Elliott's Shattered Love was all the rage for the opening mares' maiden hurdle in Tipperary and she had few problems justifying odds-on favouritism.

This was her first start over hurdles having won a point-to-point and a bumper before finishing third in a Grade Two bumper at Aintree in April.

She was popular in morning trading from 5/4 and went off the 4/6 favourite for this two-mile contest.

Bryan Cooper, in the Gigginstown silks, settled her in fifth as Killahara Castle did the front-running duties.

Shattered Love moved closer to be almost on terms at the third last. She then tracked the new leader Rosshaven Lady before grabbing a narrow lead at the second last.

The six-year-old mare asserted under Cooper and kept on well after the last to fend off staying-on Don't Kick Nor Bite (13/2) by three and a quarter lengths.

Rosshaven Lady was a further length and a half back in third at 14/1.

Gordon Elliott said: "That was grand. She is a big mare and anything she does this year is a bonus.

"She is still only a big shell of a thing so we'll take it quietly with her and see. We'll look for a little mares' race next in six or eight weeks time. She'll go chasing next season."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.