Awayinthewest and Barry Geraghty pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
After a string of placed efforts, Awayinthewest got a deserved win to her name in the feature at Ballinrobe this evening, the Monroe's Live Mares Handicap Hurdle.
A good sixth in the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2017, the Pat Fahy trained bay ran another fine race in defeat when third in a Listed contest at Punchestown on her penultimate start.
She was since however beaten when odds-on at the Co Kildare venue, and was sent to post at 4/1 this evening in the colours the Good As Gold Syndicate.
Settled behind the leaders in third by Barry Geraghty, the daughter of Getaway was switched to the outer from two out and was soon ridden in pursuit of the leader.
She got to the front inside the final furlong, and kept on well from there to prevail by two and three parts of a length.
The front-running Presenting Mahler couldn't hold off the winner in the closing stages, and had to settle for second under Mark Enright for John Ryan at 20/1.
Flavania was another three and three parts of a length back in third, while the 3/1 favourite Dawn Shadow who beat the winner in that Listed event Punchestown, was sixth.
"We kinda came down today saying if we got second we'd have six grand for her and we'd still be able to go for a maiden," said Fahy.
"They've brought in new rules though now to catch out bigger lads than me. She's not eligible for a lot of the maiden hurdles and you can't plan as well as you used to.
"You can't be placed now for some of the mares maiden hurdles. It wasn't brought in to get me but it was getting me with her. That's a good series overall though.
"We said we'd come down here when she was well, and it worked out which is about the size of it.
"She's tough. She was jammed in and had to work hard at it. Having the rider she had of course done her no harm either!"
STEWARDS REPORT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Flaviana trained by Mrs John Harrington was found post race to have pulled a right fore shoe.
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
