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Meade's Xirivella makes winning all-weather and handicap debut

Xirivella and Colin Keane with Noel Meade and grooms Emma Connolly and Leanne Gosling. Xirivella and Colin Keane with Noel Meade and grooms Emma Connolly and Leanne Gosling.
© Healy Racing Photos

A maiden winner at Killarney on her most recent start, the Noel Meade trained Xirivella made her first start on the all-weather a successful one when scoring on her handicap debut in the BAR 1 Betting 'Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight' Handicap at Dundalk.

Always close to the pace under jockey Colin Keane, the Noel Meade Racing Ltd owned filly came through to lead early in the straight.

Asserting over a furlong from home, the 9/1 chance stayed on well inside the final furlong to post a two-and-a-quarter length verdict over Star Harbour .

Noel Meade said: "We did a piece of work with her here last week, and she seemed to go on it quite well.

"Unfortunately, the horse ( Winter Adventure ) that she worked with ran in the race before and he ran terrible, so I wasn't filled with confidence after that!

"She's a very nice filly and she is going the right way. She got the trip well and she seemed to like the surface well. He (Keane) said she probably has a little bit left in her.

"I'll have to look and see what there is and see what happens. She might get sold, I don't know - she is my own and we have to keep them moving along."

(Quotes by Michael Graham).

1st
9/1
Tote €10.00 €2.40
2nd
2.25L
4/1
€1.70
3rd
nose
2/1Fav
€1.20
4th
0.75L
8/1
About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.