Dancer dazzles in Lismullen Feet Of A Dancer proved too classy for the boys as she ran out an impressive winner of the Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle at Navan this afternoon. Paul Nolan’s charge was the sole filly in the Grade 2 contest as she made her first start since finishing third in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last March. The 17/2 shot cruised into the lead before the last, for Sean O’Keeffe, and stayed on stoutly when asked for an effort on the run-in. She went on to post a convincing eight-length success over I’ll Sort That in the two-and-a-half mile event. When asked if the winner had shown even better form today O'Keeffe said: "I think so, she really surprised me today. We weren't expecting that as such, but she is improving. “She's still only a seven-year-old, so she has every right to still be improving. That was brilliant. "I was afraid she was a bit in my hands and winging hurdles everywhere, running a bit fresh, but she had a nice blow turning in and I knew she would stay galloping. “I could see the others around me starting to get a bit tired. In fairness to her, she always gallops to the line, so I was confident of that. "We were thinking she could go up to three miles as well. Maybe she was just a bit fresh today. She's an improving mare and she had a crack at a Grade One last year, so maybe she can again this year after that.” When asked if she might be worth trying in the stayers’ hurdle division this term he added:- "Definitely and she will probably relax as she goes on through the season. If she just keeps improving the way she is, hopefully she will bring us to those places." The Yellow Clay went to post a well-backed 2/1 favourite but was beaten before the straight and pulled up before the final flight. (Quotes by Michael Graham)
