Ireland suits Ballyquin Queen

Brian Gleeson talks to David Splaine after Ballyquin Queen's win
(Healy Racing Photos)

This was the six-year-old mare’s first outing on a Irish racecourse having been trained in England by Philip Hobbs. Her form had been uninspiring apart from a third place in Newbury in November 2011.

The odds reflected her form as she was sent off 14/1, however, she responded well to Splaine’s urgings and saw out overy bit of the two mile five trip to score by three parts of a length. All The Way Home in second at 11/2 from 11/1 beat War (12/1) in third.

Claire Gleeson owns the mare and her husband Brian Gleeson from RTE said: “That was a great surprise. I didn’t think she would go on the ground.

“I was hoping she would be placed because we were going to cover her in February as she has a good old-fashioned National Hunt pedigree.

“It wasn’t a great race. She’ll go for another handicap. It is Claire’s second winner. Her first came at the Curragh.”

Volkis O’Blue was heavily backed when opening opening earlier at 9/2, then 10/3 at the track right down to 5/2 on the off, but he fell at the fifth.

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)