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Anna Bunina off the mark over hurdles

Anna Bunina and Donie McInerney jump the last Anna Bunina and Donie McInerney jump the last
© Photo Healy Racing

2/1 favourite Anna Bunina easily landed the Mallow 4-y-o Fillies’ Maiden Hurdle for John McConnell and Donie McInerney.

She led from the third last and readily dismissed market rivals Guinevere and Marmolata by 11 lengths and the same.

Useful on the Flat in Britain where she won four for Jedd O’Keeffe, the daughter of Poet’s Voice had been third on hurdles debut at Musselburgh before being pulled up twice when tried at a higher level, including behind Concertista at Cheltenham.

Having been in with every chance when unseating rider two out at Bellewstown on her previous start, she made no mistake on this occasion.

Winning rider McInerney said: "We looked a winner the last day but I fell off her and it is grand to get back and win on her today.

"She travelled well, I thought we went quick enough early and then we steadied up down the back.

"She was thrown into the deep end in Grade 2s and in Cheltenham but it was grand to get a confidence booster for her after the last day and she had good form on the flat on easy ground (yielding here after some rain)."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.