It is not often that a Lady O'Reilly Kevin Prendergast horse with the owners retained rider Chris Hayes up, is sent off at 20/1, but that was the case with the newcomer, Rising Wind who proved victorious by a head in the Listowel Arms Hotel European Breeders Fund Maiden at Listowel.
This one came through as the pace-setters folded and she held-off the very easy-to-back Ballydoyle first-timer Obligation (Johnny Murtagh up) by a head. His Joseph O'Brien-ridden stable companion Eagle Canyon (4/1 this morning into 11/8) ended up beating only four home.
Chris Hayes said afterwards: "They went a good gallop. The ground was a help and she wanted every yard of the mile. It's a hard place to win first time out but she gritted her teeth and stayed on well."
Meanwhile Fabian Burke representing the yard commented: "We're happy with her and she appreciated the trip and ground. She'll progress and come on from it."
Rising Wind is out of the O'Reilly's Group-winning Key Of Luck mare, Right Key.
