Late Night Deed (right) and Misty Weather battle out the finish© Photo Healy Racing
Late Night Deed bounced back to her best as she took the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Mares Handicap Hurdle under Adam O'Neill for Garrett Power.
A winner of a point-to-point on her debut back in 2012 she followed up in a maiden hurdle at Clonmel on her second racecourse start in May of the following year.
Having disappointed on six racecourse starts since she was available at 20/1 last night but opened on-course at 14's before going off a 12/1 chance.
Settled behind the leaders she was sixth entering the straight for the final time.
She travelled well in second after three out and came with her challenge approaching the last.
She made a mistake there but soon regained her composure and kept on best on the run-in to score by two lengths. Misty Weather (10/1), who had her last run way back in September of 2012, ran a cracker to finish second under Mikey Fogarty for Eoin Griffin. Pace And Passion was sent off a 5/1 chance and she was another five and a half lengths back in third under Shane Shortall for Thomas Farrell. Lizzies Way (14/1) was a further four lengths back in fourth under Davy Russell for Stephen Ryan while the 9/2 favourite Theatre Sunset finished a disappointing nineteenth under Sean Flanagan for Harry Kelly.
Garrett Power said afterwards: "She has always had ability and we put her in foal to Leading Light since her last run (pulled up).
"She has been a nightmare to train (injury-wise) but we have two months left with her now, we'll see what she gets (penalty) and she could also go for a beginners chase."
STEWARDS REPORTS
S.W. Flanagan, rider of Theatre Sunset, trained by David Harry Kelly, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount missed the first hurdle and never travelled thereafter.
The Stewards requested a report from Garrett James Power, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Late Night Deed (GB), placed first, as compared with its most recent run. The trainer reported that his charge had been given a year off following her run at Punchestown in May 2014 and she reappeared at Punchestown again in May 2015 when she ran a good race. This was followed by a very disappointing run the last day at Listowel 1st June which could not be explained. Since then she has gone in foal and appears to have got stronger and better in herself. In his opinion this was a contributing factor to her improved performance. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
