Cristiano Marealdo, far side, comes to claim Poppy Rose© Photo Healy Racing
Patiently-ridden Cristiano Marealdo popped up at 50/1 in the second split of the qualified riders' maiden hurdle in Naas.
Joey Dunne produced her over the last to overwhelm well-backed 2/1 favourite Poppy Rose on the run-in. The five-year-old mare kept on well to see off the favourite by a length and a-half. Another 50/1 shot, Chosen Shant was the same distance back in third, a place in front of Derby De Thaix (18/1).
Philip Rothwell, whose Cramers Valley finished runner-up at 50/1 in division one, said: “I ran her in Gowran the last day on bottomless ground. She was very weak last year and I thought she’d run a nice race in Gowran but, after travelling well up the back straight, she stopped stone dead at the top of the hill — she just couldn’t get out of the ground.
“We said we’d go back to two miles and drop her in and Joey was excellent on her.
“Peter Byrne is an owner/breeder and has had horses with me for years. I bought a few fillies for him with pedigrees and this filly came out of the Derby Sale for five grand.
“He’s been very patient with her, and I’m delighted she’s won for him. His health wasn’t very good last year and he’s lucky to be with us. He’s got a huge kick out of this today.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
