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Power a nice surprise for Grassick

Allusive Power and Niall McCullagh (centre) breaking from the stalls before winning the fillies maidenAllusive Power and Niall McCullagh (centre) breaking from the stalls before winning the fillies maiden
© Photo Healy Racing

Allusive Power was produced with a well-timed challenge to cause a bit of a shock in the fillies maiden at Ballinrobe.

Niall McCullagh got a lovely split on the rail turning for home in the nine furlong event and challenged inside the final furlong.

Front-running favourite Golden Acorn (1/1f) had looked set for a gutsy victory after battling back to lead entering the straight, having been passed by Choisilady over two furlongs out.

But she couldn't hold the charge of the Michael Grassick-trained filly inside the final furlong, who got up to record a length victory at odds of 16/1.

The winner had been well beaten in two handicap starts this season since switching from Dermot Weld's yard.

The Verglas filly had made a promising debut as a two-year-old last season but hadn't built on that effort.

"That was a nice surprise - and a little miracle - but she's always had ability," said Grassick.

"The small field helped as she wasn't getting messed about. This is my lucky track (leading Flat trainer with runners today).

"She's in the July sales and the plan was to go there before today."

(On course reporting by Thomas Weekes)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.