Born Believing wins Cork finale for Claire and Dara O'Connell Trainer Claire O'Connell and son Dara enjoyed success in the final race of the Cork Easter Festival as Born Believing got up close home to win the Cork & Waterford Mares Point-To-Point Flat Race. A winner on her point-to-point debut at Belharbour in February, the home-bred mare was sent off 4/1 to keep her unbeaten record intact. Held up in the early stages, the daughter of Court Cave was produced to challenge over two-furlongs from the finish. Engaged in a ding dong battle with Tintara inside the final furlong, Born Believing led right at the line to prevail by a head. Claire O'Connell said: "Her brother Born Braver has just finished (10th) in the Grand National but it probably came too soon after his Ulster National win and we've always felt this one had more foot than him. It is a great pedigree. "Dara is my youngest son and the other two are at home looking after the other horses. We are a small family business so when you get a good one it really makes it worthwhile and we'll try and hold on to her. "We might go for a winners' bumper now and she won't go over hurdles until next autumn. She is improving all the time and is still a bit green, so she'll improve away. "Dara is doing his Leaving Cert this year so isn't allowed ride over jumps until then and has to go back to study now! Hopefully he'll get into college and he is stay riding as an amateur too." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
