Grade 1 winner Zenta lands Fairyhouse's opener Owner J.P. McManus’ Grade 1-winning hurdler Zenta (3/1) bounced back from a recent pulled-up disappoinment when proving Willie Mullins with a ‘1-2-3-4-6’ in Fairyhouse’s opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase today. Winner of the top-level Jewson Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree in April 2023 and third in Cheltenham’s month-earlier Triumph Hurdle, Zenta had been pulled up in a Graded chase at Cork on her previous start last December 8. Jockey Mark Walsh today patiently nursed Zenta behind the leaders, only producing her to lead after the last, scoring comfortably from stablemates Karia Des Blaises (second), Paggane (third) and Miss Manzor (fourth). True Testimony collected €450 fifth-prize, with Mullins’ final runner Iris Emery picking up the pieces in sixth. McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry reported “it’s nice to see her back in a bit of form. She had a rough old year last year and lost her way completely. “She jumped quite well and didn’t mind the ground, so you’d be happy with that. She put her head down in the last half furlong. We’ll find a little handicap or mares race somewhere for her.” Quotes from Gary Carson
