Gangster Granny climbs the hill well for O'Keeffe Gangster Granny enhanced her fine Downpatrick record with victory in the Go fibrefast With Fibrus Rated Novice Hurdle over an extended two-miles-five-furlongs. From 12/1 in the morning, she went off at 11/2 and tracked the leaders in third for Darragh O'Keeffe. She improved her position by a place after three out and a good jump at the last brought her right into contention. She soon disputed the lead with Lemmy Caution and wore that rival down inside the final furlong. She raced away by five and a half lengths from the 5/2 runner-up for owner James Murdoch. Colin McBratney said: "Delighted! He (O'Keeffe) gave her a great ride. "We wanted to go to Galway with her, so if he (handicapper) gives her a couple of pounds we could get into a 0-110 in Galway. That's the next plan and there is probably something back here for her in August. James is a local lad and she has a lot of local support. "We are back on song again, thank goodness. "We were going to go in the next race, the 0-110, and she didn't get in. We said we would pitch her in here and I was actually going to put a claimer on her. Then Darragh phoned up for the ride on her. "She jumped well on the whole and he was very happy the whole way through with her. She travels well here. "Everyone thinks she is a Downpatrick specialist, but I know she could go to Perth or somewhere else" The five-year-old mare now has two wins and two places at Downpatrick.
