Just four of the eight who set out for the 2m 3f Mares Beginners Chase managed to complete the course with the odds-on 4/5 favourite Askanna doing just enough to hold off the renewed challenge of False Messenger
Having won three point-to-points at the beginning of her career, the Colin Bowe trained, daughter of Old Vic (second winner for that sire, after Folsom Blue put in an exhibition of jumping this afternoon on her first start over fences on the racecourse proper.
After racing on the pace throughout she was headed at the second last by the runner-up who travelled strongly under treble seeking jockey Ben Dalton.
However Askanna under Barry O’Neill battled back between the last two fences to regain the lead and kept on well on the run-in to hold off the late surge of 14/1 shot False Messenger. Lonesome Dove ran on well to take third a further length and a quarter back at 12/1 while Ask Me Sister was the only other finisher a further two lengths behind at 20/1.
Winning trainer Colin Bowe said afterwards: "She only does what she has to but at the end she had to pull out all the stops. That's not her ground and I wouldn't run her on it again.
"She will go to Fairyhouse now for a good mares chase in January."
The winner has a strong pedigree and comes from the family of Merry Gale and Racing Demon.
