Thynetocatcher jumps the last on her way to victory under Declan Queally© Photo Healy Racing
Thynetocatcher put some disappointing efforts over hurdles well behind her as she ran out a comfortable winner of the opening race on the second day of the Killarney May Festival, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Trained in Co Waterford by Roger McGrath and ridden by fellow Waterford man Declan Queally, the winner was sent to post the 13/2 second favourite with all the money coming for Flaming Pop who opened at 5/2 this morning before being back on course from 15/8 into 11/8 favourite.
Unfortunately that Bill Harney trained, Bryan Cooper ridden mare was beaten at the second last where she fell on the level and was put down after breaking her leg.
The winner, who is a 6yo daughter of Catcher In The Rye, travelled well entering the straight and hit the front before the second last.
She kept on best from there when ridden out and scored by three and three parts of a length at the line. Grainne Delight ran well to take second under Sean Flanagan for Eamonn Sheehy at 14/1 while Tile Lady was a further half a length back in third at 7/1 for Martin Ferris and Colm Murphy.
Having won a point-to-point at Dungarvan in February of last year on the third time of asking, the winner followed up on her racecourse debut in a bumper at Gowran in March.
She then ran a decent race in the Listed mares bumper at the Aintree Festival of last year before pulling up on her hurdling debut on heavy ground at Roscommon last September.
On her next start she sprang a 25/1 surprise in a Listed bumper at Navan in November before finishing fifth to Don Cossack in a Grade 2 bumper also at Navan in December.
Sent off the 6/4 favourite on her first start of 2012 at Limerick in January she fell in the race won by Lisrose and she then disappointed on her next two starts most recently at Fairyhouse in April when she pulled up in the race won by Shadow Eile.
Winning trainer Roger McGrath said afterwards: "She has good bumper form but I couldn’t find anything wrong with her after her run the last day. We just couldn’t put our finger on it.
"She will have a summer break now and come back for a winter campaign. I’m not sure whether we will keep her hurdling or go chasing."
Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes
