Our Nana Rose jumps the last under Andrew Thornton© Photo Healy Racing
Having won the O'Neills Sports Club Challenge Handicap Hurdle last year with Nivek's Dream, Pat Martin and Andrew Thornton followed up twelve months on with 5/1 shot Our Nana Rose
The 6yo daughter of Viking Ruler was recording her fifth career success this evening but her first since 2009.
Her four previous victories all came in 2009 and on her twenty-fourth start since her last victory she finally won again, keeping on well from the second last to score by two lengths at the line after racing prominently throughout. Magnetic Force finished second under Barry Cash for Robbie Hennessy at 16/1 while Windwood Lad was a further five lengths back in third at 9/2 under Robbie Colgan for Michael O’Hare.
The winning versatile bay mare had her last three runs on the level and on her last run over hurdles she was just beaten by a head by Fairymount Lord at Ballinrobe in May.
Winning trainer Pat Martin said afterwards: "That was a masterful ride by Andrew. It was as good a ride he has ever done for me. He decided to make all but I was doubtful.
"She is in foal to Zebedee and she has about another month to go."
(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)
