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Rubarb proves sweet in beginners chase

Littlestickarubarb and Brian HayesLittlestickarubarb and Brian Hayes
© Photo Healy Racing

Littlestickarubarb ran out a wide-margin winner of the Slievenamon Beginners Chase after a decisive move by Brian Hayes at the third last.

The Mick Winters-trained mare jumped in the lead leaving the back straight and soon kicked on by a few lengths.

She had her rivals at work turning for home and the 6/1 shot stayed on strongly over the last two to record a 14 length winning margin. Tiantu ran on best late on to finish runner-up.

The winner was making her second outing over fences and has proven ultra consistent, finishing placed on her previous four outings.

"She had a great run on her first run over fences at Tramore and she was only beaten three lengths by a horse who won since,” said Winters.

“She had run in point to points before I got her and while she fell twice over fences, at least she had that point to point experience inside her.

"John Kilbane, the man who owns her, fell off a ladder this morning and had a bad fall. He's ok but had a bad fall."

(Quotes by Tom 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.