Break My Soul wins Gowran's opener Capable mare Break My Soul (6/1) scored on her fences debut today, landing Gowran’s opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase for trainer Ian Donoghue, his brother jockey Keith Donoghue and owner Matthew Rogers. Bought for £70,000 out of Nicky Henderson’s yard in January, the six-year-old had filled fourth-position in two Grade 1 hurdle races at the end of last season, with the latter being in Punchestown’s Champion Hurdle in May, when finished one place ahead of off-colour Constitution Hill . Today’s seven-runner race included heavily-backed Lantry Lady (5/6f), which blundered away her chances at the fifth-last fence, with Break My Soul improving to lead after the second-last before beating Qualimita by 3.5 lengths. Donoghue, whose biggest success todate came in March’s Ulster National, reported “Keith was happy with her, and it was straightforward. She was ready to start today, and I was confident she would win. “Last year we were only killing time over hurdles. I wanted to go for a chase straight away and luckily enough Keith talked sense into me and said to keep her for this season. “She got black type here in the Red Mills (Hurdle, finishing second) and I’d say she just didn’t stay the 2m4f at Aintree. “We’ll look at those graded mares’ races and won’t be afraid to go against the geldings as well. We’ll try and stay to two miles and she’s definitely the best one we’ve ever had.” Quotes from Alan Magee
