Harding savours Grade 3 honours for Grainne A Chroi Grainne A Chroi put in a sparkling return to action, after almost a year off, to take Grade 3 honours in Punchestown's Matchbook Betting Exchange Quevega Mares Hurdle. The 16/1 outsider made eye-catching headway before two out and travelled best as she closed on Langtry Lady soon after negotiating that obstacle. John Shinnick sent her past that rival on the approach to the home bend and the seven-year-old mare certainly wasn't lacking in fitness before the final flight. At that stage, World Of Fortunes (10/3) looked threatening as she moved into second, but Grainne A Chroi fended her off by three-quarters of a length at the winning post. Grainne A Chroi was last seen finishing runner-up in a Grade 3 mares' novices' hurdle at Limerick in March. She now has a Grade 3 in the locker to go with a point-to-point and a maiden hurdle. Marie Harding said: “That was great, we’re delighted. “She’s actually a good mare, but she’s gotten stronger as she’s got older. “We were a little bit worried as she got a bad fall before Christmas, schooling. She was telling us she was right but we were still nervous. Her skin was unreal. “She’s tough and she actually did it really well. She came around the home-bend really travelling and he went for it. “John hadn’t sat on her in a long time, but he won her maiden hurdle. “We were just worried about today and we’ll see where we go now. We’ll see how she is tomorrow. She’ll tell us where we’re going next. “That was amazing, I can’t believe it. She’s our pet at home. She’s not over-big, but she’s got a serious heart.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
