Alice Johnston is clear under Aidan Kelly© Photo Healy Racing
The well-related Alice Johnston put an important win on the board at the 20th time of asking in the Heinz Pollmeier Memorial Handicap Chase at Tramore.
Aidan Kelly rode his second winner aboard the Westerner mare, bouncing back after disappointing when favourite at Wexford last time.
Padraig Roche ’s charge, bred by his mother Noeleen and owned by the Beechpark Racing Syndicate, went on from before the last in her pace-setting role, to beat American Image by five lengths.
"She is a home-bred filly so it's great to get a win out of her. She was a bit disappointing a couple of times, I thought she would have won before now. That family seem to get better with age. She is a fine mare and is probably only filling in to herself,” said Roche.
"Her owners will get a great kick of that. They used to own Neddyvaughan but they took over this one when he had to retire. I'm delighted for Aidan too. He is with me full time and he works really hard. He is a good rider too and it's great to give him the opportunity.
"It was the plan to make all, she gets the two miles well. She is in at Killarney on Thursday and she'll probably go there now. Hopefully she can build on that.
"She wants good ground and I'd say that's what happened her at Wexford, the ground had gone against her. There was only five runners there so we had to take our chance. The ground is key to her though."
(DM & EM)
