Ash makes impressive hurdling debut Ash Hobbs made a winning start over timber with an impressive display in the Irish Stallions Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse. The Jack Hobbs mare was an impressive point-to-point winner on her debut but had been slightly disappointing in a couple of bumpers. Back over jumps today the Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old was a well-backed 10/11 favourite. She tracked front-runner Red Acres Georgie in the two-miler before Darragh O’Keeffe sent her for home going to the second last. The answer was instant as she went on to post a six-and-a-half length win. Stable representative Robbie Power said:- “We’re delighted with that. She was very impressive when she won her point-to-point and she’s a big filly. “She disappointed in bumpers on very soft ground, maybe she wants that nicer ground and maybe needed a bit of time to mature as well. “She’d been schooling really well at home and we were looking forward to getting her started over hurdles. “I’m delighted for everyone that she went and did that. “Darragh said she’ll appreciate an extra half-mile as well. We’ll keep our options open, get her home and see how she is. “Obviously there’s a mares novice in Down Royal. It might come a bit quick, we’ll see how she is. “Darragh said when he got off her that she wouldn’t want proper winter ground. We’ll keep ticking away now and see where we go.”
