De Bromhead lands Feathard Lady Hurdle again Down Royal’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle went to a Henry De Bromhead-trained runner for the third time in five years as Fairyhouse maiden winner Ash Hobbs landed the spoils under Darragh O’Keeffe. The Robcour-owned five-year-old was sent off an easy-to-back 4/1 chance in the Grade 3 contest over two miles and a furlong. After being held up in touch, she improved to stalk Switch From Diesel after three out. Heading that one on the approach to the last, O’Keeffe’s mount went away to beat that rival by two and quarter lengths, with another De Bromhead runner, Salsinha, a further half a length away in third. "Really good, delighted with her. She has really found her form,” said De Bromhead. "She always worked like a nice mare last year and she disappointed us in the bumpers, but the two times we ran her it was very testing ground. "We just hoped jumping and nicer ground would stand to her, and she has really excelled. She's like a different mare this year. "Darragh felt she had stepped forward from Fairyhouse and she did. It was a quick enough turnaround on her." When asked if she could go 2m4f, he replied: "Maybe, I don't know - we'll see. The ground is important to her, so we'll see what everyone wants to do, and we can make a plan. "Lovely that she's a black-type mare now. "We are also delighted with Salsinha (third), she ran really well as well." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
