Eve Moneypenny (nearest) beats Monsant © Photo Healy Racing
The maiden hurdle over just shy of 2m4f produced a shock with 50/1 chance Eve Moneypenny claiming the spoils under Jody McGarvey.
Fourth on her her only time to complete in five point-to-point starts and fitted with a hood for her Rules debut, she came from well off the pace to join Monsant on the run to the last and mastered that rival on the run-in with a length and three quarters the margin between the pair at the line.
Brendan Walsh, representing trainer Colin Bowe who trains the daughter of Westerner for Milestone Bloodstock Limited, said: “That's a nice surprise. She's always shown plenty of ability but she's a little bit highly strung and never really helped herself in point-to-points.
“She had to be dropped out and then when she'd creep she'd miss a fence. Point-to-pointing wasn't her thing so we said we'd give her a chance.
“The boys at home were reasonably happy that she was going to be good enough for this and that hurdling was her job.
“We said we'd give her a chance instead of selling her on like a lot of ours.
“She was good there and to be fair you have to give the man on board plenty of credit, he gave her some ride. He made that look easy and she's not easy.
“I'd say the drop back in trip and going an honest gallop helped, things were a little bit simpler. Point-to-pointing is not every horse's cup of tea and she's one of those.
“She's getting better with racing. I think we'll keep her on the go for the summer and see what happens. We'll play it by ear.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
