Point The Toes clears the last under Shane Butler© Photo Healy Racing
Mark Fahey got off the mark in the training ranks as Point The Toes (just his second runner) took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle for the Monasterevin based handler.
Fahey saddled his first runner at Kilbeggan on Sunday with Hold The Fire finishing fourth in the race won by Captain Lob.
He has tasted plenty of success down through the years in the saddle and his uncles Seamus, Jarlath, Peter and Paul are all well-established handlers.
Paul formerly trained Point The Toes and the daughter of Atraf won three times for him, one of which was over the course and distance.
Sent off at 8/1, the eight-year-old mare hit the front shortly after the second last and she kept on well under Shane Butler, scoring by two and three parts of a length at the line. Shershewill finished second under Ben Dalton for Aaron Stronge at 6/1 while Pumped Up Kicks was three parts of a length back in third at 9/2 under Davy Condon for Gordon Elliott. Roisin Dubh was sent off the well-backed 7/4 favourite (from 3/1 on-course) under David Casey for Philip Byrne but she could only manage fifth.
The winner is owned by Fahey’s grandmother Maureen and he said afterwards; "She wants a sharp, tight track and she did it well.
"Big thanks goes to Niamh, Keith, Brendan and Dolores (all family members). Brendan is gone to American today.
"We wanted her spot on for today and she might jump a fence here or at Tramore. I have four in training and a couple of young ones."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
