Local News shocks at Cork Debutante Local News was the shock 100/1 winner of Cork’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle today, giving local trainer Richard Hennessy a first success since taking out his license last year. Today’s 15-runner race featured four previous bumper winners, including heavily-supported 4/7 favourite Divaboriva, with Local News initially tipping around at the back of the pack, under her 5lb claiming jockey Josh Williamson. Having made late headway in the home straight, Local News finished well to eventually edge a head success over Divaboriva, with debut bumper-winner La Cote Fleurie in third. Castlemartyr-based Hennessy revealed “to be honest, she hasn’t been showing anything - definitely not! “She is a companion for another younger horse at home and everyone rides this mare, including my wife Stephanie, my dad and sister. She is a very pleasant mare but that was very unexpected.” He added “I suppose she is a six-year-old getting to the races for the first time, so had that bit of experience from home under her belt. She kept getting small niggly injuries which kept knocking her out, but they were nothing serious. “Her companion at home was actually due to run in Killarney yesterday but we had bad news when on arrival at the course as the IHRB couldn’t find his microchip, so he wasn’t allowed to run. We’ll get that sorted, go again and, after today, it looks like he can’t be too bad! “This mare is for sale, although there aren’t many who like to buy small mares! “My father Joseph always had a few winners and I’m farming now so took out my trainers’ license a year-and-a-half ago. We are dairy farmers and keep a few horses as a hobby.”
