Whimsy gets up on the line for Connolly The Anthony McCann-trained Whimsy (4/1) edged out victory in the Holden Plant Rentals Lady Riders Classic Handicap for rider Aine Connolly. It looked like it would be a special victory for rider Orla Queally on the Gerard O'Leary-trained Rest Your Mind, but once Whimsy had a target to aim at under a strong drive from Connolly, the seven-year-old stayed on extremely well to get there just before the line and ran out victorious by a neck. Speaking after the race, trainer Anthony McCann said: "It was great to get it now. The race in Navan came a wee bit soon and the ground was a little bit quick for her. I was praying for the rain they got here the other night. Aine (Connolly) gave her a super ride. The only instructions I gave her were to switch to the outside when she came around the home straight and deliver her on the line. Aine O'Connor rode her work here on Tuesday and she said she'd be very hard beat. Unfortunately, she had a ride for her own yard and for JP (McManus). It was great to get the first Curragh winner. We were a long time knocking on the door here, beaten in a couple of photo finishes. It was brilliant to get it today. Whimsy might go chasing but she is entered in the Colm White race next week. She needed to win today to have a chance of getting in. Hopefully now, if the ground turns up soft, she'll be in it. She took a blow there after the line too, Aine said."
