Eric Larkin and Slievenamon© Photo Healy Racing
Slievenamon ran away with the Come Racing Again Tomorrow Mares Handicap Hurdle, providing her trainer Eric Larkin with his first success since 2004.
The Kilsheelan based handler has only had a small number of runners since his last success, and he is concentrating on training full-time now after recently retiring from the army.
Available at 14/1 last night, Slievenamon came in for plenty of market support, and opened on-course at just 6s, before eventually going off a 7/1 joint-favourite.
Prominent throughout under JJ Slevin, she was pushed along and went a few lengths clear before two out.
She increased her advantage before the final flight, and kept on strongly on the run-in, going on to score by seven and a half lengths. Jet Mistress (25s to 16s on-course) kept on well to take second under David Mullins for Paul Nolan, while Dahills Hill (25/1) was a neck away in third for Brian O'Connell and Ken Budds. Kilganer Queen (12/1) completed the placings in fourth, while the other joint-favourite, Make My Heart Fly was a disappointing thirteenth.
Larkin, who last tasted success with Koln Stars at Tramore in June 2004, said afterwards: "She has been operating in good company lately and probably deserved that.
"She needed a bit of better ground and we had been running her out of her ground all along; on good ground she is twice the filly.
"It's my first winner for years but hopefully it's the first of many now!
"I recently retired from the army where I was commandant and I'm full time at training now. I've three horses in training but hopefully I can get a few more and build on this. This is the only one running at the moment but it's a good start."
STEWARDS REPORTS
P.T. Enright, rider of Highly Driven (GB) trained by Michael G. Cleary, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a respiratory noise.
B. Browne, rider of Kentucky Lass trained by Barry T. Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lost a front shoe.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
