What Lies Ahead (Wayne Lordan) holds off the determined challenge of Dancingwithangels (Rory Cleary)© Photo Healy Racing
What Lies Ahead (9/2) held off Dancingwithangels (10/1) to credit Willie McCreery and Wayne Lordan with victory in the opening 16,095 Euros Average Pick 6 Dividend Maiden at Ballinrobe.
Owner/breeder David Hyland has a nice filly on his hands in this Saffron Walden four-year-old and she was always to the fore in this mile five furlong event behind the pace-setting Benash.
She travelled well to assume command three furlongs out before asserting under Lordan a furlong and a half out.
Dancingwithangels came with a strong rush for Rory Cleary in the final furlong and indeed she was reportedly favourite in betting on the photo. However the print showed that What Lies Ahead still had a short head in hand on the line.
McCreery said: "She is a grand filly. I think she was kind of left there in front and I'm just delighted she won a maiden for the lads.
"She will be a lovely filly for the end of the year in some of those nice handicaps when they go a proper gallop.
"The last day Wayne was spot on - he just said she didn't let her herself down on the firm ground. That ground suited her today.
"She kicked away from them and went five or six lengths in front and just idled then. She is only a four-year-old and I think we will have a lot of fun with her and she jumps well.
"We just need to be patient with her and she will have a nice future over the winter and will run on anything bar bottomless ground. She won't go to Galway, we'll just take our time with her - baby steps.
"Her owner is David Hyland and he's originally from Monasterevin but he is living in Portlaoise." (DM & EM)
