Grannie Lowrie and Jack Doyle (right) head Little Lady Lu near the finish© Photo Healy Racing
The opening Tom McCormack Memorial (Mares) Maiden Hurdle went to 33/1 chance Granny Lowrie who made a winning debut in the hands of Jack Doyle, riding for his father Pat.
She was travelling well behind the leaders from some way out and, under a cool ride, came through on the short run-in to lead in the final strides and touch off Little Lady Lu (Conor McNamara deputising for Gavin Brouder) by a cosy neck. Will You Win was back in third, and the 5/2 favourite Coosan Clover was in front when running out at the second flight of hurdles.
The winner, by Fame And Glory, is out of a half-sister to Nicky Henderson’s smart hurdler Darlan, winner of the Christmas Hurdle under A.P. McCoy in 2012.
Winning rider Jack Doyle said: “She’s a nice filly but we thought she’d improve a lot for the run.
“She hadn’t a whole pile of work done but she travelled like a good filly.
"She jumped super and was very professional the whole way. She’s a nice filly for the future.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
