Una's Pleasure and Brian O Connell (left)© Photo Healy Racing
The John Joe Walsh trained Una’s Pleasure landed the opening Kingdom Mares Maiden Hurdle at Listowel today, with Joseph O’Brien’s first official jumps’ runner Kalopsia meeting with an odds-on defeat.
Ridden by Brian O’Connell, the winning daughter of Presenting quickened up well in the closing stages to edge past Undefined Beauty close home, for a length win.
The race also featured 8/13 favourite Kalopsia who was representing newly registered trainer Joseph O’Brien. Barry Geraghty’s mount, however, blundered badly at the second and fifth flights and in the end was well held in mid-division.
Following Una’s Pleasure’s win, Walsh quipped “Brian (O’Connell) gave her a good ride and waited until the others were finished!”
He added “she did it well and is a good stayer. She needs two and a half miles and will go for a handicap next.
“They had the place well watered and she is a summer mare.”
By Tom Weekes
