Fitzgibbon opens hurdle account aboard Flashaway Abbie Fitzgibbon partnered her first winner over hurdles and just her second under Rules when Flashaway took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle at Navan. The well-bred daughter of Mount Nelson, supported from 33/1 into 16/1, won a bumper for Willie Mullins and had a couple of outings over hurdles for current connections this year. There were plenty still in contention in this 22-runner event approaching the final flight where Flashaway held a slight advantage. The Charles Byrnes-trained mare kept on well on the run-in for Fitzgibbon to beat the 5/4 favourite Switch From Diesel by a length. Cool Native was just half a length further back ion third. A delighted Fitzgibbon said, “I rode a winner point-to-pointing and a winner on the Flat in Listowel a few years ago. "It has been a while, but I've had a good few placed. Obviously, nice to get this one. "Super and she toughed it out. If I got a good stride at the last, I was fairly confident (of winning) so I was looking for it. "He (Byrnes) just said to be handy away there and to keep things simple. "I'm from Charleville, Co Cork. I'm with Charles six days a week and I love working there. I'm there two years, going into my third year. I'm riding everything I can get my hands on!" Quotes by Michael Graham
