Shantelle and Katie O'Farrell© Photo Healy Racing
After a good run when third to Walking On Glass at Sligo on Tuesday evening, Shantelle (6/1) went two places better when making all under regular partner Katie O’Farrell to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle by three lengths from the 9/2 favourite Cailean’s Angel. Happy Jacky (6/1) was another two and a quarter lengths away in third, and it was a further eleven lengths back to fourth home Mary Fields (16/1).
It was a second career win for the ten-year-old mare by Shantou, with O’Farrell also having ridden her to victory at Ballinrobe in May 2018.
She seemed to appreciate being out in front which was a change in approach from her usual running style.
"She (Katie O'Farrell) had a plan going out to be handy and she was probably crying out to be ridden that way," said winning trainer Dick Donohoe.
"She's after finding a bit of form and she's tough and winged everything there.
"For the owner John Kennedy that's a great boost as he's battled illness in the recent past.
"She has entries at Ballinrobe and Bellewstown and as she's so tough another run would be a possibility. We'll see."
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
