Avondale overcomes absence to complete hat-trick Overcoming a near 10-month absence, Avondale (3/1 from 5s) completed a hat-trick in the Grimme Ireland Maiden Hurdle. Successful on the level at Galway and Roscommon last season, the Gleneagles five-year-old was back over flights this evening for the first time in over a year. Owned and trained by Barry Connell and fifth on his sole previous effort over flights, the bay victor tracked the leaders throughout under Sean Flanagan. While not fluent at times, he came with his challenge between horses from two out and went clear approaching the final flight, keeping on well from there to beat Persian Daughter (12/1) by seven-lengths. The Noel Meade-trained Encosta (7/2) was another two-and-three-quarters of a length back in third, while De Temps En Temps (5/4f) was a disappointing fourth. Appearing held in second at the time, Faithful Follower (6/1) fell at the last. "I'm delighted with him," Connell enthused. "He's a high-class horse, he's rated 80 on the Flat. All he lacked today was a bit of experience over hurdles. You can see he missed the second one and fluffed the last a bit but, other than that, he was good. "You can see going to the line he was going better the further they were going. He will have learned a lot from that as he hasn't run since September. The rest of them are all match fit. I think you can mark him up for a couple of reasons. "He's a horse probably in time will get a trip. We think he is definitely heading the way of a Graded horse over hurdles. "He will go to Galway on the Tuesday for a Listed winners' of one race with a 2lb penalty. I'd say with the hill, it will suit him down to the ground. "The ground is lovely, I was talking to Alan (Delany) during the week about coming here because I knew what a good horse he was. I didn't want to risk him and they have done a fantastic job on watering here, so fair play to them." STEWARDS REPORTS * The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined De Temps En Temps, trained by Gavin Cromwell, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. * At the request of the Raceday Stewards, Anna McGuinness, rider of Take Chance (FR), trained by John C. McConnell, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that her mount was one paced throughout and stayed on and past tired horses. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
