Cnoc Seoda jumps the last with Mae's Choice back in second© Photo Healy Racing
Cnoc Seoda sprang a 25/1 surprise in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase at Thurles this afternoon, for the father and son team of Declan Queally junior and senior.
The 7yo daughter of Dr Massini was making her debut over fences on the racecourse and was fitted with a tongue strap for the first time.
She has two point-to-point wins to her name along with a maiden hurdle success at Cork in April. However her form of late in handicap hurdles had been disappointing.
Given a confident front running ride today, she made all, jumped well and kept on in the straight to record a cosy three and three parts of a length win over the Gordon Elliott trained chasing debutante Mae's Choice in second at 5/2. Carrig Millie who opened at 11/4 with Paddy Powers this morning, was backed from 9/4 into the clear 7/4 favourite on track.
The Michael Cullen trained 7yo never looked like winning under Davy Russell but she did keep on well to take third a further five and a half lengths back.
Winning trainer Declan Queally senior said afterwards: "We always thought she was smart. We put a tongue tie on her for the first time today. Hopefully she will be ok in the morning and she will go for a mares winners race next."
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
