'Stone mad' Hollow off the mark over fences Royal Hollow swooped on the run-in to land the spoils in the Fethard Beginners Chase at Clonmel, for in-form trainer Andy Slattery. 80/1 shot Mercury Mission made a bold bid from the front in the race, over just shy of two miles, but couldn’t hold the late charge of the winner. Cian Quirke’s mount took a chance at the second last but was better over the last and the 2/1 joint-favourite grabbed the front-runner in the closing stages to post a length-and-a-quarter win. Royal Hollow was making a successful start over fences. She had won three over hurdles and also has a Flat success on her CV. Exuberant Mare Proves A Training Challenge "She is a good mare but is stone mad,” said Slattery. “She is over-brave and at home we have to keep a lid on her. We did a good bit of schooling with her but we couldn't do too much either as she is too brave - she is not a married man's ride. "She will come on in her jumping after today and will be better on better ground. "The owner doesn't want to breed from her yet but if she was mine, she'd be breeding as she has black-type. We'll keep going and I think there is a good Flat handicap in her." (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
