Niamh Hennessy gives Elm Grove a well-deserved victory kiss© Photo Healy Racing
Willie McCreery had an evening to remember at Tipperary, with Elm Grove completing a 467/1 treble for the Kildare man, in the concluding Toomey's Applegreen Filling Station Ladies Handicap.
McCreery, who had been without a winner since June 12th, was earlier on the mark with Ostatnia and Valentana both of whom were ridden by Billy Lee.
Niamh Hennessy was doing the steering on Elm Grove, and it was a case of first ride, first winner for the Co Kilkenny woman.
Settled behind the leaders, the successful John Malone owned filly was sent to the front with four furlongs to race. She stretched clear approaching the straight, and kept on well for pressure inside the final furlong, going on to score by two and a half lengths at the odds of 8/1. Placere and Zeftan reduced the deficit inside the final furlong, but it was too little too late, and they had to settle for second and third respectively.
The runner-up was returned at 6/1 under Maxine O'Sullivan for Dick Brabrazon, while Zeftan was the 2/1 favourite under Helen Mooney for Adrian Keatley.
McCreery said afterwards: "Niamh has been with me for the summer having previously been with Enda Bolger for the winter. She's a hardy girl, a dinger, and works hard.
"She won well and stays well. I told Niamh not to expect her to quicken but that she'll grind it out. I'm delighted."
Hennessy, who is from Glenmore in Co Kilkenny, added: "I'm 21 and before I was with Enda Bolger, I was based with Dessie Hughes - I used to ride out Our Conor (Triumph Hurdle winner) every day. Today was my first ride."
Additional reporting Thomas Weekes
