Aurora Nova bounces back to form after winter break Aurora Nova benefitted from a break after finishing in rear last August when taking the Awardsandgifts.ie Handicap in good style on her reappearance at Bellewstown. The Andy McNamara-trained mare travelled well behind the leaders in this five-furlong sprint and was ridden to lead just inside the final furlong. The 11/1 shot kept on well under Wesley Joyce to beat the well-backed Lismacbryan Hill, 8/1 overnight and sent off 5/2, by a length and a quarter. Lakota Lady finished nicely a further two and a quarter lengths back in third. McNamara said, “She was very good and consistent last year, and then she had a bad run in the Naas, so we gave her a break after that. "She went up an awful lot in the weights and probably struggled, but she dropped 7lb over the winter. "He (Joyce) did well to get her across. She won a bit too far for the handicapper, but we will enjoy getting a winner today, and hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on her. "Great for the owners (Dreams Of Glory Racing Syndicate), it is their first winner. First of many, hopefully." On the syndicate name, he added: "Sure that is what the game is about, isn't it?" Quotes by Michael Graham
