Naughty Molly on her way to victory at Fairyhouse© Photo Healy Racing
It's amazing what a set of blinkers and a tongue-strap can do and Naughty Molly fulfilled the potential she'd shown at times before in the past when landing the Dunboyne Mares Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse under Ian McCarthy.
This was a real Galway success as Hannah Lee, from near Gort, owns the Presenting six-year-old and she’s trained by her husband Joe. Three pound claimer McCarthy meanwhile is from nearby Kilbeacanty.
McCarthy made his intentions known from the start on Naughty Molly but she dived at the first and was very slow into the 2nd. Davy Condon and Never A Secret took a heavy fall here and that fence was bypassed next time around as the in-form pilot received attention.
Naughty Molly soon warmed to her task though, in a clear lead, and she ended up beating Kalico Kim (bad mistake eighth, but had every chance) by two and three parts of a length. Favourite Thynetocatcher didn't always convince with her jumping but she had no excuses in the end either, a further seven lengths back in third.
Mrs Lee explained: "That's long overdue. The blinkers I'd suppose made a difference. We're really happy with that.
"My granddaughter named her as she's Molly as well. This was going to be her last run before we let her out.
"She was lucky at the first as she nearly toppled over. She's a sister to Just For Joe (did well for Lee's before)." (GC & EM)
