O'Brien threads eye of a Needle on Cleopatra's

Down the bottom of the handicap, Cleopatra's Needle sprang a 22/1 surprise (from 40s early) in the Tote E5,000 Guaranteed Jackpot Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Back over flights this evening for the first time since April, the 98-rated chestnut was given a patient ride by Patrick O'Brien.

Making progress from five out, the Harry Rogers-trained seven-year-old sneaked through a narrow gap on inner after two out and swept to the front before the final flight.

Keeping on well when ridden, she ultimately came home two-and-a-quarter lengths to the good, with Billie Frechette (14/1) making late headway to finish a never nearer second.

Returned the 16/5 favourite, Enfranchise was another three-quarters of a length away in third, while Killinure Lass (22/1) was fourth.

"She won well. I had a nice position the whole way. Harry just said get her relax and creep away. She relaxed and I crept away, she was good at the line," O'Brien, who saw his claim reduced to 5lb after riding a winner at Wexford last week, reflected.

"I just thought I'd keep it simple, I got all the gaps and it worked.

"It's a big deal (to get the win) and I'm a bit shocked to be honest, but I really enjoyed it.

"I'm 23 and from north Co. Dublin. I'm with Dermot McLoughlin, Gavin Cromwell, Bill Durkan and Henry de Bromhead. I do bits and pieces everywhere. I try to spread myself around and it's working well.

"My agent Gary Cribbin got me on this lad and got me a nice ride tomorrow (Lord Erskine in the Galway Hurdle), so he's doing a marvellous job and I can't thank him enough.

"I never sat on this mare before today to be honest, but speaking to Kieren Buckley, Sean Flanagan and Harry Rogers, they filled me with loads of confidence, so I was happy to take the chance and it worked."

Rogers added: "The people that own her (the Nap Racing Syndicate) love coming here and it’s great to have a winner here. She’s not a bad filly.

"That's the first time that young chap has ridden for me. Gary Cribbin, his agent, put him on to me and you couldn't ask for any better.

"I honestly thought she had a great chance but I thought the ground might be gone on her, I thought it was gone a little bit on the slow side.

"In fairness she did it well, I don't know whether she'd go on any softer than that but she's done it."

When it was put to him that his late wife Mary would be proud of him he added:- "Only for her I wouldn't have kept going. She had it all planned for me before she went and she wanted me to just keep it going and that was it. We've a few of our own horses as well so it's worked out."

Rogers runs Lord Erskine in the Galway Hurdle and said:- "It would be some fairytale but we need a lot of rain. We'll keep praying. He'll come home all being well."

Paul Browne, part of the Nap Racing Syndicate added:- "We're absolutely delighted and thanks to Harry. He's got ten horses and we've three with him. All three will run this week and will in the big races.

"Having a winner here is absolutely unbelievable. We were very lucky here before when Remarkable Lady won a race for us here in 2017.

"We went seven years without a winner and a lot people might have given up but we've had five winners now in the last 18 months. You need to just persevere at this game."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Belle The Tigress trained by Henry de Bromhead, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

D.J. O'Keeffe, rider of Belle The Tigress, trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount made a mistake at the second last.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Farfromnowhere trained by Paul Nolan, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson